Lebanese army kills 3 jihadists near Syrian border

The Lebanese army killed on Tuesday three jihadists and injured four others in a military operation on border with Syria.

The army said in a statement that its units controlled a jihadist post on the outskirts of the northeastern town of Ras Baalbek after attacking the gunmen entrenched on the border area with Syria.

It added "the operation came after the military received information that terrorist groups were making combat and logistics preparations."

There were no casualties among the army's ranks, said the statement. The army did not specify which groups the militants belonged to.

The Lebanese army has recently stepped up security measures along the northeastern border with Syria and routinely pounds militant positions on the outskirts of the towns of Arsal and Ras Baalbek to repel possible attacks by the al-Qaeda linked al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS) militants.

The al-Nusra and IS jihadists overran in August of last year Arsal and engaged in a 5-days clashes with the army.

Before withdrawing the jihadists abducted at least 35 soldiers and policemen. The al-Nusra executed later four soldiers while the IS beheaded another one. Endit