LA Defuses 100-Kg Car Bomb in Arsal

Local Editor

The Lebanese Army [LA] Thursday defused a car rigged with 100 kilograms of explosives on the outskirts of the Bekaa town of Arsal, which a senior military official said was meant to target a military post in the area.

The incident revived bitter memories of the spate of car bombings that struck Lebanon last year and early this year and which was linked to the war in Syria.

The military said in a statement that soldiers had grown suspicious of a white Kia vehicle with a Syrian license plate parked on a side road in the Ain Shaab neighborhood in Arsal.

"Around 11:30 am, army forces discovered a suspicious Kia car with a Syrian plate that was parked on the side of the road in the Arsal area of Ain al-Shaab," the LA Command said in a statement.

"An army unit cordoned off the site and inspected the aforementioned car, which turned out to contain 100 kilograms of explosives planted inside metallic boxes and connected to wires and electric fuses," the army added, noting that the bomb was active.

An Army unit cordoned off the area and inspected the vehicle, which contained 100 kilograms of explosive materials packed in a metal box and tied to wires and electric detonators, ready for detonation.

An investigation has been launched into the incident.

Arsal was the scene last month of five days of fierce clashes between the LA and militants from ISIL and the Nusra Front, who overran the town. It was the most serious spillover so far of the war in Syria into Lebanese territory.

The militants are still holding at least 22 of the soldiers and policemen who were taken hostage during the battles in Arsal. ISIL has beheaded two soldiers, while the Nusra Front has released seven of the captured men.
Salam will head a ministerial delegation to Doha Sunday for talks with Qatar's emir and premier on the hostage crisis.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team