Soldier Martyred, Another Wounded in North Lebanon

Local Editor

A Lebanese soldier was martyred and another injured at dawn Thursday when unknown assailants shot them in the northern Akkar district, the state-run National News Agency reported.

NNA said the gunmen, who were riding a motorcycle, opened fire on them at the junction of the town of al-Rihaniyeh around 4:30 am.

Milad Mohammed Issa was killed when Mohammed Fakhreddine Haidar was severely injured and taken to hospital, the agency said.

Following the attack, the military carried out patrols in the area and erected checkpoints to find the suspects, NNA added.

The shooting sparked anger among al-Rihaniyeh's residents, who on Thursday morning blocked the Qobayet-Halba highway near the town's road junction, NNA and the Traffic Management Center said.

The news agency added that the angry protesters called for the immediate arrest of the assailants and announced their support for the military.

The army has yet to issue a communique on the attack.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team