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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Lebanese Soldier Killed on Independence Day |
| 2010-11-23 |
| [An Nahar] A Lebanese military intelligence operative was killed in a drive-by shooting near the Syrian border on Monday, a security official said, as the country celebrated its 67th Independence Day. "Corporal Youssef Youssef was rubbed out by person or persons unknown in a car with no license plate near the Masnaa border crossing this morning," he told Agence France Presse, requesting anonymity as he is not authorized to speak to the media. Youssef was on his way to his duty post at the Masnaa crossing in eastern Leb when he was ambushed by the gunnies, the official said. Investigations were underway but the shooting was likely a personal vendetta rather than politically motivated, he added. An army statement released later the same day said two cars had been involved in the shooting and a passer-by lightly maimed. "Military units are currently tracking the gunnies who remain on the lam," it added. Eastern Leb is notorious for harboring runaways and thugs, and the army has repeatedly come under fire in the area. A Lebanese major and his adjutant were killed last month when their vehicle came under gunfire during a raid aimed at tracking down an army deserter in the eastern Bekaa Valley. In April, three soldiers were killed in an ambush on a patrol in the Bekaa when a prominent clan sought Dire Revenge™ for the killing of one of its members, a drug baron who refused to stop at an army checkpoint. |
| Posted by:Fred |