BEIRUT, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese Army's "Dawn of the Outskirts" offensive entered its second day Sunday as it advanced on positions held by Islamic State (IS) militants on the outskirts of the northeastern towns of Al-Qaa and Ras Baalbeck.
During the Army's afternoon media briefing, General Fadi Abou Eid, a military spokesman reported that the army had seized an additional 30 square kilometers from IS Sunday, putting the total amount of territory wrested from the group at 80 square kilometers.
During the day's fighting, the army spokesperson also said that 15 militants had been killed, including 2 attempting to carry out suicide attacks against Lebanese soldiers.
Army units were consolidating grip on newly captured territory east of Ras Baalbeck as artillery continued intermittent shelling of IS posts in the area.
The Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun inspected the military units deployed in Ras Baalbeck and toured positions the army has seized from IS, according to an army statement.
Army units continue to advance and now control a number of hilltops on the outskirts of Ras Baalbeck, according to a military statement.
"(The army) has also destroyed fortifications used by the terrorist IS group," the army statement added.
However, the Orientation Directorate of the Lebanese army said in a statement that "an army vehicle was subjected to a landmine explosion on the way to Njasa-Joroud-Arsal roundabout, resulting in the death of three soldiers and the critical injury of a fourth soldier who was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention."
