« | Main | »

A brief humanitarian truce in Arsal fell apart after Islamist militants resumed attacks on the Army. The militants, who include fighters from the Al Nusrah Front and from the Islamic State, released several kidnapped security forces but still hold dozens more. Hezbollah said its fighters have not participated in the clashes and that it has been providing only logistical support. Abu Hasan al Homsi, an Islamic State commander, was reportedly killed in Arsal. Clashes also erupted in Tripoli and gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying soldiers, wounding seven, one of them critically. Experts say it will be difficult for the Army to rid Arsal of Islamist fighters; thousands of refugees have fled the fighting but some 32,000 Lebanese and 50,000 Syrians remain in the city.