Fierce Clashes Erupt in Arsal's Wadi al-Raayan Area

Fierce clashes erupted on Saturday evening in the Wadi al-Raayan area in the outskirts of the Bekaa town of Arsal which borders Syria, state-run National News Agency reported.

“The sounds of rockets and shells are being heard in the northern Bekaa's towns,” NNA said.

The agency did not say anything about the parties involved in the fighting but LBCI television had earlier reported “fierce clashes” in Wadi al-Raayan between Hizbullah and unidentified gunmen.

The development comes only hours after the Islamic State jihadist group announced executing a Lebanese soldier it had kidnapped during fierce clashes with the army in and around Arsal in early August.

The IS had also beheaded a Lebanese army sergeant in late August.

The troops were taken hostage as Syria-based militants from the IS and al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front overran Arsal during the battle that started following the arrest of top militant Imad Jomaa.

The fighting ended a few days later but the militants kidnapped around 36 troops and policemen and took them to an area between Arsal's outskirts and Syria's Qalamun.

The battle in Arsal was the most serious border incident since the Syrian conflict erupted in March 2011.

Hizbullah has been taking part in the Syrian war for more than a year now, arguing that its military involvement in the neighboring country is necessary to fend off the threat of extremist groups.

The Lebanese group's assistance has helped the Syrian army regain control of most of Qalamun from rebel hands but pockets of resistance remain active in the region.

Y.R.