Lebanon: Landmine explosion near Syrian border August 20

Event

On Sunday, August 20, three soldiers were killed and one was critically injured when their armored vehicle hit a landmine on the Lebanese-Syrian border, near the town of Arsal. The soldiers were heading to take part in an ongoing offensive the Lebanese army is conducting against Islamic State (IS) militants in region.

Context

The Lebanese army launched an offensive on August 19 against IS on the northeastern border with Syria. The incident occurred near the town of Arsal, where Hezbollah - a Lebanon-based Shi'a militant group and political party - recently forced out IS militants in a joint cross-border operation carried out with the Syrian army. Lebanese security forces are reportedly not coordinating the offensive with Hezbollah or the Syrian army, although both groups are also involved in the battle against IS in the area. According to a Lebanese army spokesman, as of August 20 more than two-thirds of the area previously occupied by IS militants in Lebanon had been recaptured. The spokesman also confirmed 20 IS militants had been killed and ten soldiers injured.

Lebanon's security context is closely tied to the situation in neighboring Syria, notably due to the involvement of Hezbollah in the Syrian civil war. Many Sunni Syrian rebels and refugees took shelter in Lebanon near the Syrian border after the Syrian army and Hezbollah took control of towns and villages. Terrorist attacks have occurred periodically in Lebanon in recent months, usually targeting security forces or isolated villages in the Beqaa Valley, such as Arsal, Ras Baalbek, and Qaa. Arsal is located near the Syrian border and is considered a hideout for terrorists and IS militants.

Advice

Individuals present in Lebanon are advised to avoid the border region and to remain vigilant at all times elsewhere in the country. As a reminder, Western governments strongly advise their nationals against all travel to Beirut's southern districts, southern Lebanon, the city of Tripoli (north), and the country's eastern regions (including Aarsal, Baalbek, Hermel, Majdel, and Rachaiya).