Lebanon on Wednesday killed nine militants of the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front in a military operation near a northeastern border town, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Four al-Nusra Front militants, including one officer identified as Abou Firas al-Jebbeh, were killed and several others wounded when the Lebanese army shelled Wadi al-Khail, a region on the outskirts of Arsal.

Five other militants were killed later when they attempted to retrieve their colleagues' bodies, the NNA said.

Lebanon has been fighting al-Nusra Front and Islamic State militants since August 2014, when they abruptly overwhelmed the border town and kidnapped 35 Lebanese servicemen.

Al-Nusra Front militants subsequently executed four soldiers whilst IS militants beheaded another.

However a swap deal was negotiated with al-Nusra Front last month, which led to the release of 16 kidnapped servicemen.

Nine servicemen are still held by the IS. Endit

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