Two Wanted Men Injured in Gunfire Exchange with Army

Two men wanted on several charges were wounded on Saturday in an exchange of gunfire with an army patrol in Bekaa's Baalbeck city, the state-run National News Agency reported.

“The gunfire exchange took place when the army was trying to arrest the suspects,” it detailed, noting that they are allegedly wanted in several cases, among them kidnapping incidents.

"They were involved in the shooting at a general security patrol in Bekaa's Shtoura region earlier in March”.

Meanwhile, LBCI television identified the men as Mohammed Ismael Choucair and Abbas Choucair.

“They were wounded in an exchange of gunfire in Baalbeck's al-Sharawina area,” it remarked.

Both men were transferred to a hospital in the area for treatment, and NNA said one of them is in a critical condition.

A General Security first sergeant was killed on March 12 and three security personnel were wounded while chasing a fugitive in Shtoura.

MTV said the incident happened near the Ramia hunting rifles store where a security patrol came under gunfire.

A statement issued by the General Directorate of General Security said one of its patrols “came under gunfire while passing on the main road in the Shtoura area, which resulted in the martyrdom of Third Inspector Michel Maalouf and the wounding of two other members”.