Massive Manhunt for Suspects in Deadly Ambush on Army Patrol
Lebanese troops have launched a massive manhunt for the suspects behind a deadly Monday ambush on an army patrol in east Lebanon that left four soldiers killed and one army officer critically wounded.
All the victims were from northern Lebanon. The wounded officer, identified as Maj. Allam Dunia, was being treated at a Beirut hospital.
The Lebanese army sent reinforcements to the scene following the 11:30 am attack on a military vehicle in Riyaq.
Convoys of military commandos with small arms and military equipment were seen heading to Sharawneh and Dar al-Wasaa in Baalbek via Dahr el-Baidar.
The daily As Safir on Tuesday said the armed culprits fled to the barren mountains of Hermel ahead of the army crackdown.
An Nahar for its part said troops raided overnight the house of Hasan Abbas Jaafar in Sharawneh.
Military sources told An Nahar that the manhunt would continue until Jaafar and the rest of the perpetrators are caught.
According to information obtained by the paper, Hasan Jaafar is the brother of Ali Abbas Jaafar who was shot and killed at an army checkpoint in Shlifa in east Lebanon March 27.
Jaafar is said to be the mastermind of Monday”s ambush. At least three other men are allegedly involved in the attack.
They were identified as M.F.A. from Brital, H.A.G. from Baalbek and A.A. from Hor Taala.
An Nahar said Maj. Dunia was the target of the attack.
Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji called on Dunia after surgery, vowing not to slacken in efforts to search for and arrest the criminals.