BEIRUT — The Lebanese army said its troops killed six extremists and arrested 16 others near the Syrian border on Wednesday, in its largest operation against ISIS.

The soldiers launched the raid, in which local ISIS chief Anas Zaarour was killed, at dawn in the Arsal region of eastern Lebanon, a military spokesman said.

A “most wanted” militant, Ahmad Noun, was among those arrested.

The army said in a statement that its “lightning” raid was launched on the basis of information that the jihadists were planning attacks on military posts and to kidnap civilians in Arsal.

In August 2014, the army clashed with jihadists of ISIS and Al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, in the Arsal region, with militants kidnapping 30 Lebanese soldiers and policemen as they withdrew back along the border.

After long and arduous negotiations, 16 of the kidnapped men were released at the start of December in exchange for Islamist prisoners held in Lebanese jail. Three soldiers have been executed by the terrorists. The remaining servicemen remain hostages with ISIS.