5 Charged in Bloody Army Ambush in North

Military Prosecutor Judge Saqr Saqr issued on Friday charges against five suspected terrorists for killing a soldier in an ambush in northern Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency reported.

NNA said Saqr charged the five detainees with belonging to an armed group for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities.

The suspects were also charged with opening fire on the army during an ambush in the Akkar town of al-Mhammara.

One soldier was killed and several others were injured in the attack, NNA said.

It added that Saqr referred the file to First Military Examining Magistrate Judge Riyad Abu Ghida.

Lebanon has witnessed a rise in terrorist activities in recent months.

The real threat of extremists rose in August when jihadists from neighboring Syria briefly seized control of the northeastern border town of Arsal before withdrawing with several soldiers and policemen as hostages.

The army has clashed with extremists in the area and in several towns in northern Lebanon, including al-Mhammara, several times since then.

G.K.

H.K.