One soldier killed, another wounded in Lebanon attack

Beirut, Oct 9 (IANS/EFE) A Lebanese soldier was killed and another wounded Thursday when they were shot by gunmen on a motorcycle in Akkar province bordering Syria, media reported.

The attack took place at the entrance of the town of Rihaniye where the army increased its patrols and set up checkpoints to apprehend the gunmen, according to the National News Agency (NNA).

Angry townspeople blocked one of the main roads in the area to protest the shooting.

The Lebanese army has been targeted by radical groups after it began attacking the jihadis of the Sunni radical organisation, the Islamic State (IS), in the northeastern region of Arsal in August.

The IS regularly kidnaps Lebanese soldiers while its supporters carry out provocative acts in the country such as destroying a picture of the Virgin Mary and replacing it with an IS flag in the town of Name near Beirut.

Walls bearing slogans of the radical movements, such as "IS is Coming to Behead the Crusaders" and "IS is Coming", are common sights.

Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011, sectarian clashes and terrorist attacks have increased in Lebanon where some of the population is divided between supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.