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On 2 August 2014, after Lebanese security forces arrested an al-Nusra Front commander, fighters from the al-Nusra Front and ISIL surrounded Lebanese Army checkpoints in the region before attacking them and storming Arsal's police station.[13] The rebels then proceeded to take control of the town.[14] 16 policemen were taken hostage,[15] as well as two soldiers who were freed by the military later in the day.[13] The fighting continued into the next day and left 30 militants,[16] 10 soldiers and two civilians dead. 25 soldiers were wounded and 13 were missing and presumed captured.[17] Two of the missing soldiers were rescued the same day.[18]
On 4 August, the death toll had risen to 17 soldiers,[19] 50 civilians and 50 militants. 86 soldiers had been wounded and the number of missing had reached 22,[6] while 135 civilians and 15 militants were wounded.[20] Two of the dead civilians were infant Syrian refugees.[21] The military had advanced and captured[6] the technical institute building, which was seized by the militants the previous day,[18] as the town came under heavy shell fire from multiple directions. [22] In the evening, the Army also managed to capture Ras al-Serj hill.[10]
On 5 August, the military was attempting to capture two government buildings, while three soldiers and three policemen were released by the militants.[10] During the day's fighting, the ISIL commander for the Arsal area was reportedly killed,[1] while al-Nusra forces retreated from the town.[23] In the evening, a 24-hour cease-fire started.[14]
On 6 August, another three soldiers were released, while 10 soldiers and 17 policemen remained as captives.[24]
By 7 August, a fragile truce was established as ISIL forces also retreated from the town and redeployed along the border with Syria.[2][25][12] Their hideouts there were subsequently bombed by the Syrian Air Force, resulting in dozens of wounded militants.[26] Two days later, the Lebanese Army entered Arsal in full force and re-established control over checkpoints that the militants had previously seized, while another soldier died of his wounds, bringing the military death toll to 18,[27] which was updated to 19 by 12 August. 60 militants were also confirmed dead,[4] as well as 42 civilians. The total number of civilians wounded was estimated at 400.[12]