Seven Lebanese soldiers being held by militants in the Arsal region on the Syrian border were freed on Thursday after a truce deal, the official National News Agency said. On Wednesday night, chief negotiator Sheikh Hossam al-Ghali said the militants, believed to be from several jihadist groups operating in Syria, had begun retreating. "Fighters in Arsal have started to head across the Lebanese border" into Syria, Ghali said. He said a ceasefire would be in place until 7:00 pm on Thursday (1600 GMT), following an agreement between Leba**n's prime minister, the army and other parties.