Beirut, July 1 (IANS): The Lebanese army on Wednesday said it ambushed Nusra Front militants in eastern Bekaa Valley overnight, leaving at least five jihadis dead.

In a communique by the Guidance Directorate, the army said "the troops saw gunmen moving from the northeastern border town of Arsal to its outskirts when it ambushed the militants in the area of al-Khazzan that lies between Wadi Ata and Aqaba al-Jird", Xinhua news agency reported

"The army opened fire at the group of militants after issuing warnings to stop. At least five fighters were killed and several of them were injured," it said.

The military identified one of those killed as Syrian Ghaleb Saeed Ghiyyeh.

Meanwhile, the National News Agency said that the army units deployed in and around Arsal took additional measures following the clash to avoid any possible retaliatory attacks.

It said the army also patrolled the southern area of Arsal that stretches from Wadi Ata to al-Hosn and Wadi Hmeid.

The army has been confronting the militants from Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS) on eastern borders with Syria since last August when the militants overran briefly the Arsal border town and abducted at least 35 soldiers and policemen before withdrawing to Syria.

The Nusra Front later executed four soldiers while the IS beheaded another one.

The Lebanese government is negotiating through a Qatari mediator to release the remaining captives.