Lebanese Army soldiers in Tripoli in April 2020. (Credit: Ibrahim Chalhoub/AFP)
BEIRUT — Multiple people were injured and three suspects killed after a clash took place following a pursuit by the Lebanese Army of a car in which a man suspected of killing a Lebanese Army soldier was a passenger, the army said in a tweet on Wednesday.
Here’s what we know:
• “During a chase by a patrol from the Intelligence Directorate of a car with three passengers, including the suspect in the killing of Sergeant Abbas Qais and two others, which as it arrived at the army’s checkpoint in Hrabta, Bekaa started firing bullets toward the soldiers before the latter fired back causing injuries to the perpetrators,” read the Lebanese Army’s tweet. The three suspects later died.
• A spokesperson from the Lebanese Army confirmed to L’Orient Today the information in the tweet, and said that murdered soldier was working as a money exchanger when he was shot dead by an unknown gunman in Beirut’s southern suburbs a few days ago.
• The motive behind Qais’ killing was reportedly theft. The Lebanese Army could not confirm this information.