A "dangerous terrorist" was shot dead on Thursday in gunfire with Lebanese soldiers in the eastern Bekaa town of Arsal, the army said.

Sami al-Atrash was wanted by Lebanese security forces for preparing car bombs, firing rockets and mortars, and kidnapping citizens.

Army intelligence managed to locate the whereabouts of al- Atrash in the town of Arsal near the Syrian border, saying "al- Atrash opened fire at the army patrol that raided his location in the town, soldiers fired back and al-Atrash later died of wounds he sustained."

Arsal shares a 50-km border with Syria and has been a crossing point for gunmen backing the rebels in Syria.