The Lebanese Army command said Monday that a suspect, who had shot dead a soldier in the town of Jounieh a day earlier, is involved in smuggling and has connections to arms traders.

Army Intelligence Sergeant Samson Antranikian was killed at dawn Sunday when the suspect, now identified as Hassan Hussein Orayyeb, opened fire on a patrol during a manhunt in Jounieh, north of Beirut.

The Lebanese Army command said Sunday that a soldier was killed after a suspect opened fire on him during a chase in the town of Jounieh, north of Beirut.

A terse communique said that an intelligence patrol was chasing Hassan Ahmed Gharib for committing different crimes when he opened fire towards the vehicle and killed Sergeant Samson Antranikian.

Lebanon and France began on Saturday a major military exercise in Jounieh, the National News Agency reported.

The maneuvers included air, ground and naval field training exercise conducted by the Lebanese Armed Forces in cooperation with the French Navy helicopter cruiser the Jeanne d’Arc.