BEIRUT, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese army killed six Islamic State (IS) militants Thursday in a bombing raid on the outskirts of the eastern border towns of Ras Baablek and al-Qaa, the military said in a communique.
"Six militants were killed in the shelling, including an IS leader," the Army Directorate of Orientation said in the communique.
The army also said it destroyed a mortar launch pad and seized some weapons, ammunition and other military equipment.
"Army troops are continuing to tighten the siege on the militant group entrenched on Lebanon's eastern border with Syria," it added.
Meanwhile, the army command published a series of photos showing its advances in the border area.
Earlier, the army said it captured new areas on the outskirts of Arsal, including Mrah el Cheikh, Ajram and Wadi Hmayyed, and discovered "bombs and explosive belts left behind by militants."
The Lebanese military has been preparing for an all-out attack on IS positions along the border with Syria for weeks, while amassing reinforcements and pounding the area with artillery shells and rockets.
