The Lebanese army Lebanese Army said Friday it arrested 11 men, including four Syrian nationals, for possession of arms in the eastern town of Ersal.

The Lebanese army Lebanese Army said Friday it arrested 11 men, including four Syrian nationals, for possession of arms in the eastern town of Ersal.

“Army units deployed in the area of Ersal arrested yesterday [Thursday] and this morning [Friday] 11 individuals, including four Syrian nationals, in the barren terrain leading to the Lebanese-Syrian border,” a statement issued by the Army command said.

The statement noted that quantities of arms, ammunition and military gear the men had were seized.
The Army added the detainees and the confiscated items were handed over to relevant authorities.

The statement said the arrests were part of the Army’s crackdown on wanted individuals as well as measures to counter cross-border infiltration and the smuggling of weapons and contraband.
The Army said that troops will continue to pursue "other individuals" involved in destabilizing Lebanon.

The announcement comes two weeks after militants from Ersal ambushed a Lebanese Army unit, leaving two soldiers killed.