Beirut, May 1 (IANS): The Lebanese army said Wednesday that its troops concluded a raid and arrested operation in the eastern Bekaa border town of Arsal following clashes with gunmen in the area. It caused injuries to five of its soldiers.
The army said in a communique that "five members of a Lebanese army patrol were wounded in an ambush set up by a group of Syrian gunmen in the outskirts of the Bekaa region of Arsal", Xinhua reported.
It said that "the army countered the fire source and followed the gunmen and raided their whereabouts on the outskirts of Arsal".
But the National News Agency (NNA) reported that armed clashes resulted in scores of dead and injured gunmen. The NNA reported later that the army concluded its operations in Arsal and arrested four Syrians.
The army troops have come under fire many times since its deployment last month in execution of the security plan that was devised by the Higher Defense Council and approved by the cabinet.
The army raids in Arsal resulted in apprehending tens of stolen cars and arms depots.