Lebanese general says Syrian rebels cross its border, attack town and capture several soldiers

8/2/2014
ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Mideast-Iraq-357

    In this Tuesday, July 29, 2014 photo, Islamic militant parade in Beiji, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of the capital, Baghdad, Iraq. Last month's rapid advance of the Islamic State group, which captured Iraq's second largest city of Mosul, has plunged the country into its worst crisis since the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2011 with more than a million Iraqis now classified as internally displaced or refugees. (AP Photo)

    ASSOCIATED PRESS

  • BEIRUT — A Lebanese army general says Syrian rebels have crossed into Lebanon, raided a border town and captured several soldiers.

    The general tells The Associated Press that the gunmen attacked army positions near the town of Arsal and troops returned fire.

    Saturday’s attacks came hours after the army said troops have detained Syrian citizen Imad Ahmad Jomaa, who identified himself as a member of Syria’s al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front.

    The general, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly, said gunmen took a number soldiers and police officers from their homes in Arsal, as well as two soldiers who were driving an army tanker truck.

    Arsal is home to tens of thousands of Syrian refugees and rebels enjoy wide support among its population.