Politics
22:31, 30-Jun-2017
Suicide bombers attack Lebanese army at refugee camps
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Suicide bombers on Friday attacked Lebanese soldiers during an army sweep on two camps for Syrian refugees in Lebanon's Arsal area near the Syrian border. A girl was killed and seven soldiers injured after one of the suicide bombers blew himself up near a family of refugees.
The major security sweep by the army was conducted in an area that has been a flashpoint for violent spillover from the Syria crisis, and several ISIL militants were among some 350 people detained, a security source said.
A Lebanese army soldier gestures at a military vehicle at the entrance of the border town of Arsal, in eastern Bekaa Valley, Lebanon on June 30, 2017. /VCG Photo
A Lebanese army soldier gestures at a military vehicle at the entrance of the border town of Arsal, in eastern Bekaa Valley, Lebanon on June 30, 2017. /VCG Photo
A Lebanese army statement said that one suicide bomber had detonated his explosive laden belt in front of an army patrol during the manhunt for suspected militants, wounding three soldiers. The army said the four other suicide bombers blew themselves up without causing any injuries among soldiers. While the sixth militant threw a grenade at a patrol, wounding four soldiers.
The army sweep is still underway, aiming to arrest terrorists and seize weapons.
Militants have thrived along Lebanon's border with Syria since the Syrian civil war broke out six years ago.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Lebanon is currently hosting over one million Syrian refugees who fled their war-torn country since the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad started in March 2011.
(With input from Reuters, Xinhua)
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