Lebanon army shells militant positions at Syria border

The Lebanese army continues sporadic shelling of Takfiri terrorist positions in northeastern town of Ras Baalbek, Bekaa Valley, in a bid to fend off the militants dug-in at the border region.

According to a security source cited by the Lebanon-based news outlet, Daily Star, the Tuesday shelling by the Lebanese forces was a preemptive measure aimed at keeping the terrorist elements in check in the area near the Syrian border.

The source further explained that the army’s artillery positions have been firing “rounds of long-range projectiles and mortar bombs for several minutes every one to two hours on the outer edges of Wadi Rafeq and Qaa” in a move to dissuade suspected ISIL and al-Nusra Front Takfiri terrorists from launching a potential attack.

“It is a warning to the gunmen that the army is there and ready to respond to any possible attack,” the source added as quoted in the report.

Lebanon’s troops have occasionally shelled the outskirts of Ras Baalbek since Sunday. The area was the scene of heavy fighting on January 23 between the Lebanese forces and the foreign-backed Takfiri militants that attempted to overrun a military post in nearby Tallet al-Hamra.

Tallet al-Hamra is a hill overlooking Wadi Rafeq and Qaa located just a few kilometers north of Ras Baalbek.

The Syria-based terrorists waged a surprise assault on January 23 on a Lebanese army post in Tallet al-Hamra, prompting intense clashes that continued for more than 16 hours.

Eight Lebanese soldiers were killed in the attack, which also injured at least 22 more government troops.

Moreover, at least 40 of the terror elements, whose corpses were discovered on the outskirts of Ras Baalbek, were killed during ground battles as well as airstrikes conducted by the Lebanese army.