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Fighting erupts along Lebanon-Syria border after three Syrian soldiers killed
Fighting erupted along the border between Lebanon and Syria after three Syrian soldiers were killed in clashes. Lebanese troops have been deployed in large numbers in the area.
Syrian state media, citing an unnamed Defence Ministry official, said the Syrian army shelled “Hezbollah gatherings that killed the Syrian soldiers” along the border.
Syria’s interim government accused Hezbollah fighters of crossing northeastern Lebanon into Syria on Saturday, kidnapping three soldiers, and killing them on Lebanese soil. Hezbollah denied any involvement.
The Lebanese military said it delivered the bodies of the three killed soldiers to their Syrian counterparts.
Lebanese army confirms trading fire with Syria near border
The Lebanese army says three Syrians were killed after fighting on the Lebanon-Syria border near the Qasr-Hermel area last night.
The bodies have now been handed over to the Syrian military.
The army said Lebanese villages and towns were subjected to shelling from Syrian territory. It added that its “military units responded to the sources of the fire with appropriate weapons, reinforced their deployment, and maintained security”.
“Contacts continue between the army command and the Syrian authorities to maintain security and stability in the border area.”
Lebanon president orders army to respond to Syria border fire
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun says he ordered the army to respond to sources of fire from northern and eastern borders with Syria.
According to a statement by the president’s office, Aoun said the state “would not allow” clashes along the borders to continue.
The comments come following an exchange of fire between Syrian troops and Lebanese soldiers and armed groups in northeast Lebanon overnight and into Monday.
Lebanon deploys more troops to Syrian border as clashes continue
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reports border fighting is ongoing after Syrian shelling.
The Lebanese army announced it has undertaken “exceptional security measures and intensive communications” that led to the return of the bodies of three Syrian soldiers to Syrian authorities.
However, Lebanese border towns and villages have seen “shelling from the direction of Syrian territory”, the military said, noting army units responded with “appropriate weapons, reinforced their deployment and controlled the security situation”.
Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos said one child has been killed and six people wounded by Syrian shelling, adding that many civilians have fled the border area.
At least seven people killed in clashes on Syria border: Lebanese Health Ministry
The Lebanese Health Ministry says at least seven people have been killed in fighting on the border with Syria since the violence began again on Sunday night. Another 52 have been wounded.
Lebanese President Aoun has sent the army to respond after several skirmishes over the weekend, in which three Syrian soldiers were killed in separate incidents.
The interim government in Syria has blamed the fighting on Hezbollah although the group has denied the claim.
