Beirut, Sep 7 (IANS): The Lebanese Army said it has received a new batch of military aid under the US military assistance programme.

According to officials, the Lebanese Army's Logistics Brigade Saturday received the shipment at the Rafik Hariri International Airport in the presence of army officers and members of the US defence cooperation bureau.

The shipment included weapons and ammunition, Xinhua reported.

A similar shipment was delivered Aug 29 under the US military aid aimed at supporting the Lebanese Army in its efforts to combat terrorism.

On Aug 2, Syrian Islamist militants infiltrated the border town of Arsal after the arrest of Al-Nusra Front official Imad Ahmad Jomaa.

The Lebanese Army engaged in a fierce battle with the militants, leaving at least 18 soldiers killed and 86 injured, while the gunmen withdrew after kidnapping 33 soldiers and Internal Security Forces members.

The development prompted the US to bolster the Lebanese Army, while Saudi Arabia granted $1 billion to the military.