3 gunmen killed in clashes with Lebanese army

At least three gunmen were killed on Friday as the Lebanese army managed to repel an attack by a group of fundamentalist fighters on the outskirts of an eastern border town, a security source told Xinhua.

The source who spoke on condition of anonymity also confirmed that "two soldiers were injured when the army units attacked the strategic Tallat al-Hamra post on the outskirts of Ras Baalbeck."

It added that "the army fortified its position on the field and brought reinforcements to the area."

The National News Agency (NNA) reported early on Friday that fundamentalist gunmen with al-Qaida linked al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS) attacked the army post in Tallat al-Hamra and engaged in clashes with the soldiers in the area.

It added that "the military targeted with heavy artillery the positions controlled by the gunmen."

The NNA reported that "two soldiers were wounded while the army carried out a counter attack against the militants."

Tallat al-Hamra is a strategic point that oversees the outskirts of Arsal, a town that was the scene of fierce clashes with fundamentalists.

Since August 2014, the army is engaging almost on a daily basis with fundamentalist gunmen who overran the border town of Arsal.

While withdrawing to Syria, the gunmen abducted at least 35 soldiers and policemen and took them as hostages.

Later the al-Nusra Front executed three soldiers while the IS beheaded another one. Endit