Lebanese forces will launch an operation against militants near informal refugee camps in the country's east after coming under attack there, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Tuesday (July 18th).
Hariri's announcement came as Lebanese President Michel Aoun warned against rising anti-refugee rhetoric after Lebanese troops were attacked around Arsal, AFP reported.
"The Lebanese army will carry out a planned-out operation in Jurud Arsal and the government gives it freedom (to do so)," Hariri said in comments quoted by the National News Agency.
Jurud Arsal refers to the mountainous border region around Arsal, which is home to thousands of refugees from neighbouring Syria living in informal camps.
Lebanese troops carrying out arrest raids in two of those camps in late June were met with a string of suicide attacks and grenades.
A girl was killed and seven soldiers wounded in the attacks, and the army subsequently arrested dozens of people.
Days later, the army said four of the detainees had died of pre-existing medical conditions, but rights groups urged an independent investigation.
