World Bulletin/News Desk

Six army soldiers were killed in clashes with militants in eastern Lebanon on Tuesday, the Lebanese army has said.

The army said in a statement that one of its patrols had been ambushed by a "terrorist" group on the outskirts of Ras Baalbek.

"Clashes broke out between patrol's members and the terrorist group, leaving six soldiers dead and one injured," the army said.

A security source earlier said that seven soldiers had been killed in an ambush by militants believed to belong to the Nusra Front in Ras Baalbek area.

The Lebanese army has recently reinforced its forces near border with war-torn Syria following deadly clashes with militants in August, in which several soldiers were killed and injured. Several soldiers have also been captured by the militants.

Over the past several weeks, ISIL has announced the execution of two of the ten Lebanese troops it is holding. The Nusra Front, meanwhile, has announced the execution of one of the 18 Lebanese troops it is holding.

The two militant groups demand the withdrawal from Syria of fighters from Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah group who for the past two years have been openly fighting alongside Syrian regime forces.