Army Continues Security Campaign on Syrian Encampments in Arsal

An army commando force raided on Wednesday Syrian refugees encampments in the northeastern border town of Arsal, the state-run National News Agency reported.

NNA said that the army also carried out patrols on the outskirts of Arsal in search for gunmen and wanted suspects.

Last week, the army detained in similar raids five Syrians on charges of participating in training with terrorist groups.

The detained men were apprehended inside Syrian refugee encampments in the area, the army said in a communique.

NNA said that the army kicked off an operation to detain armed men, who are accused of assaulting Syrian refugee camps in Wadi Hmeid area and abducting several Syrian nationals and a Lebanese.

Ever since the Syrian revolt erupted in March 2011, Arsal has served as a key conduit for refugees, rebels and wounded people fleeing strife-torn Syria.

More than 1 million of Syrians are in Lebanon, leaving the country, home to 4.5 million people, struggling to cope with the massive influx of refugees.

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G.K.