Lebanese army kills three jihadis near Syrian border

The Lebanese army on Tuesday killed three jihadis and injured four others in a military operation near the border with Syria.

The army said in a statement that its units took control of a jihadi post on the outskirts of the northeastern town of Ras Baalbek after attacking the gunmen entrenched on the border area with Syria, Xinhua news agency reported.

It added that "the operation came after the military received information that terrorist groups were making combat and logistical preparations".

There were no casualties among the army's ranks, said the statement. The army did not specify which groups the militants belonged to.

The Lebanese army has recently stepped up security measures along the northeastern border with Syria and routinely pounds militant positions on the outskirts of the towns of Arsal and Ras Baalbek to repel possible attacks by the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS) militants.

The Nusra Front and IS jihadis overran in August of last year Arsal and engaged in a five days of clashes with the army.

Before withdrawing, the jihadis abducted at least 35 soldiers and policemen. The Nusra Front later executed four soldiers while the IS beheaded another one.