(ARSAL, LEBANON) — A roadside bomb wounding three Lebanese soldiers exploded near an army patrol in eastern Lebanon on Friday, the Lebanese military said in a statement.
The attack took place near the town of Arsal along the Syrian border. The army later said that two bombs were found near the scene of the blast, each weighting 15 kilograms (33 pounds).
Militants from neighboring Syria briefly seized control of Arsal in August before withdrawing with more than two dozen Lebanese security forces as hostages. The army has clashed with gunmen in the area several times since then.
Arsal and surrounding areas have been the site of clashes between soldiers and militants from al Qaeda’s Syria wing, Nusra Front, and the militant group Islamic State. Gunmen from the groups briefly took over the town in August and took a group of soldiers captive.
Also Friday, the U.S. embassy said Vice Admiral Mark Fox, Deputy Commander of U.S. Central Command, visited Lebanon and met with Prime Minister Tammam Salam, army commander Gen. Jean Kahwaji and other Lebanese military officials.
“In his meetings, Vice Admiral Fox noted the success of the LAF in its recent battle against extremist militants in Arsal,” the statement said.
Fox “reaffirmed continued U.S. support” to the Lebanese army and Lebanon’s security institutions, it said.
The U.S. has been speeding up delivery of ammunition to help Lebanon’s military combat jihadi groups. Washington has provided more than $1 billion in military assistance to Lebanon since 2006.