Gen. Aoun Visits Injured Troops as Huge IS Arms Haul Seized

Army Commander General Joseph Aoun on Monday visited soldiers wounded in the ongoing border offensive against Islamic State militants, as troops discovered a large arsenal of arms belonging to the terrorist group.

State-run National News Agency said Aoun inquired about the health of the soldiers at the Saint George Hospital and the Lebanese Hospital Geitaoui in Beirut, hailing their “sacrifices and bravery on the battlefield” and wishing them a speedy recovery.

The Army Command meanwhile issued a statement saying advancing army units seized large quantities of arms and explosives in border areas recaptured from IS' militants.

The confiscated weaponry include “mortars, medium- and heavy-caliber machineguns, assault rifles, hand grenades, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, explosive devices, anti-personnel and anti-vehicle landmines, shells and ammunition of various calibers, in addition to quantities of communication and photography devices, various military gear, medicines and steroids,” the statement said.

The army heavily pounded IS' hideouts and posts for the third day in a row on Monday, as it scored advances in the outskirts of Ras Baalbek and al-Qaa.

The military began its operation in the border region early on Saturday, and has already recaptured two thirds of the territory in the area.

While more than ten soldiers have been wounded in the clashes, a mine blast killed three troops Sunday while on their way to join the offensive.