Beirut- Three Lebanese soldiers and a firefighter were injured battling forest fires in the Chouf mountains southeast of Beirut Tuesday, a civil defence official said.

"There are fires in Dibbiyeh, the area of Aley, Sirjbal and another in al-Zaaruriyeh," the official said. Dozens of families were forced to leave their homes in the Dibbiyeh area, witnesses said.

"Around 600 hectares were destroyed in the area of Dibbiyeh alone," added the official. He said the fire started on Monday but firefighters had difficulties reaching the rugged mountainsides.

Last October, Lebanon witnessed its worst forest fires in 10 years. One person was killed and dozens injured, and 4,000 hectares of forest destroyed. (dpa)