The Lebanese army security plan kicked off at dawn on Thursday in the Bekaa and Hermel eastern provinces.

The Lebanese army security plan kicked off at dawn on Thursday in the Bekaa and Hermel eastern provinces, Al-Manar correspondent reported.

A joint force from the army, as well as around 1000 soldiers from the Internal Security Forces and the General Security personnel, participate in the plan.

Al-Manar TV reporter said that the new scheme includes reinforcements for the existing check points and establishing new ones in the region, particularly at the entrance to the towns of east Zahle and Hermel province.

The plan, moreover, seeks to arrest criminals and outlaws in the Bekaa where theft gangs and drug dealers take hideout, as well as networks that kidnap people in return for ransom. It also includes the control over roads leading to the towns of Hawr Taala and Brital.

The ISF Panthers' Unit is to verify passers' IDs and mechanics documents, and other issues to maintain public order.

Earlier on Wednesday, the army disabled a 25-kilogram explosive device in the Ain al-Shaab neighborhood in the eastern town of Arsal, hidden in a bin on the road that Lebanese army patrols usually use.

Several explosive-rigged vehicles and bombs were found in Arsal since the army heavily deployed in the area.

Lebanon army and security units have been battling gunmen and armed terrorists of the so-called 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL) takfiri group and the al-Qaeda-affiliate al-Nusra Front, who deploy in various area in east of the country.

Syria was hit by a violent unrest since mid-March 2011, where the western media reports accuse countries, mainly the USA, Turkey and Saudi Arabia of orchestrating the civil conflict in the country and providing terrorist groups with money, weapons and trained mercenaries.

On May 2011, Syrian army launched a wide-scale operation against armed groups and gunmen operating in the country, who started to escape the army blows and infiltrate illegally to Lebanon.