Five Lebanese soldiers wounded in blast

Five Lebanese army soldiers were injured Friday when an explosive device hit an army patrol in the eastern border town of Arsal, the National News Agency reported.

Following the explosion, heavy clashes erupted between the army and militants entrenched on border with Syria, the NNA said.

Moreover, the army raided the Syrian refugee camps in the region in search for suspected militants.

In August 2014, the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front and Islamic State (IS) militants briefly overran the town of Arsal and kidnapped at least 35 soldiers and police officers.

Later, the al-Nusra executed four soldiers while the IS beheaded another one.

On Thursday, an explosion targeted a meeting of the Qalamoun Scholars, who were negotiating the release of the kidnapped servicemen, in Arsal which led to the killing of five people and the injury of 20 others. Endit