The Lebanese Army has warned of a plot by extremist militants operating from inside Syria to kidnap its soldiers in the Bekaa Valley and northern Lebanon, according to a military communication seen on Saturday.

The internal document, issued by Army Command, said intelligence gathered on August 10 indicated that radical Islamist elements entrenched in Syrian territory near the Lebanese border were preparing to abduct Lebanese troops. The plan, the document added, was to use the captives as leverage in exchange for Islamist detainees currently held in Lebanese prisons.

The army said it had instructed its units and intelligence branches to adopt maximum precautionary measures, strengthen guard posts, particularly at night,  and report any suspicious activity both inside Syria and within Lebanese territory.