BEIRUT: The Lebanese Army Sunday foiled an infiltration attempt by jihadi militants near the northeastern town of Arsal, a security source said.

The security source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said heavy clashes erupted around 9:30 a.m. Sunday in the Wadi Hmeid area on the outskirts of Arsal, which resulted in death of several militants.

Resident from the northern neighborhoods of the Arsal told The Daily Star that they heard the sounds of intense artillery fire by the Army for at least 30 minutes Sunday morning.

Another security source explained that the Army’s recent victory against militants in Ras Baalbek and its repositioning in the eastern town has forced the jihadis to find other areas of safe haven.

Last Thursday, an Army operation drove jihadi militants off of two strategic hilltop positions along the northeastern frontier with Syria, in a preemptive operation aimed at protecting residents of border villages from extremist groups.

The Army said in a statement that its troops managed to “wrest full control” of the hilltop positions Sadr al-Jarash and Harf al-Jarash, northeast of Talet al-Hamra on the outskirts of the village of Ras Baalbek.

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