Gunmen Abduct Man in Arsal, Flee to Outskirts

Four gunmen on Wednesday kidnapped a Lebanese man in Arsal and took him to the outskirts of the northeastern border town, where Syria-based armed groups have a heavy presence.

“Four armed men abducted the citizen Toufiq Wehbe in Arsal and took him to the outskirts,” state-run National News Agency reported.

It said Wehbe was repairing a water filter in the town.

On Thursday, another man abducted during his work in Arsal was freed after a two-day kidnap ordeal.

He had been abducted at the hands of Syrian gunmen while transferring rocks from a stone-crushing plant in the area, according to media reports.

Arsal witnessed in August an infiltration by jihadist gunmen who withdrew to its outskirts after kidnapping a number of soldiers and policemen.

The militants executed three of them and are threatening to kill more hostages if the Lebanese government does not meet their demands.

The army has since deployed heavily in the area but kidnappings are still frequent there.

Y.R.