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Conflict Incident Report

Army raids in Arsal

Date of incident: 
June 30, 2017
Death toll: 
0persons
Number of Injured: 
0persons
Actors/Parties Involved: 
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)
Armed militants

A suicide bomber blew himself up with an explosive belt as an Army patrol was inspecting the Nawar camp for Syrian refugees in Arsal, according to the statement. “He blew himself up ... in front of one of the raiding patrols, leaving [the bomber] dead and leaving three soldiers lightly wounded,” the Army said.

Later, another three suicide bombers blew themselves up, but no injuries or casualties among the raiding patrol were recorded. It wasn’t immediately clear whether this attack happened in the same location as the first. These terrorists also blew up one other explosive device, the statement added.

“Army forces seized four [additional] explosive devices that were ready to be detonated," the statement added. "The military expert immediately detonated these devices in the places they were planted.”

In another operation, a terrorist blew himself up using an explosive belt as the Army was inspecting the Qareiah camp for Syrian refugees in Arsal. No casualties among the Army soldiers were reported from the explosion, the statement said.

However, "another terrorist tossed a hand grenade at one of the patrols, leaving four soldiers lightly wounded,” the statement reported, adding that Army units were continuing with raids and inspection operations in search of other terrorists, weapons and explosives.

In total, 50 persons arrested this day have been accused of participating in terrorist activities, and are potentially linked to the kidnapping of the Lebanese soldiers and the attack of Arsal in 2014. 

Primary category: 
Raid
Secondary Category: 
Arms Storage/Smuggling
Classification of conflict (primary): 
Border conflicts (Syrian border)
Violations, disputes and/or conflicts arising between rival armed groups along the Lebanese/Syrian borders which involve parties or militant groups from the Lebanese and Syrian side in both Lebanon and Syria. These conflicts also encompass transnational groups (such as faith-based regional groups, e.g. ISIS, al-Nusra Front) that cannot be considered as strictly Syrian, Lebanese or of any other national entity.
Classification of conflict(secondary):
Power & governance conflicts
Violent or non-violent conflicts associated with antagonisms related to internal political tensions between local and/or national groups and parties. These tensions may be encouraged by internal, regional and international parties. Such conflicts are characterized by their defiance and/or opposition to central State power and governance.