Residents began returning to Arsal, and security was stepped up in the town, after Islamist militants withdrew following a ceasefire. Reports said that the Al Nusrah Front militants left town and the Islamic State militants crossed over into Syria. The militants are said to be holding at least 35 Lebanese security forces as hostages, divided between Al Nusrah and IS, and to be demanding the release of 20 Islamist prisoners, including Imad Ahmad Joumaa. An Islamist sniper was arrested in Arsal, and several persons were arrested at a Syrian refugee camp in Khirbet Daoud. Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri returned to Lebanon to head a Saudi-funded antiterrorism campaign.
