Clashes between Lebanese army and militants in Arsal

Clashes have taken place in Lebanon's Arsal after an alleged Islamic State militant leader was arrested on Monday.

1 min read

22 February, 2016

Relatives of the abducted soldiers took part in protests calling for their in 2014 [Getty]

Clashes between the Lebanese army and Syrian gunmen took place in the town of Arsal, on the border between the two countries, local sources told The New Arab.

Islamic State militants fired shots at a home of a Lebanese citizen after the arrest of their leader, Mohammed Amoon, the National News Agency reported.

Arsal has witnessed an escalating security crisis in recent years when dozens of Lebanese soldiers were kidnapped by Syrian opposition groups in the summer of 2014.

A Qatari-brokered prisoner swap took place a year later in which 16 Lebanese security officers were exchanged for 13 people.