Lebanon Issues Retaliation Orders Following Deadly Border Clashes with Syria

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has directed military retaliation against gunfire from Syria after deadly clashes arose due to accusations against Hezbollah. The violence resulted in multiple casualties on both sides, prompting discussions for de-escalation between the Lebanese and Syrian armies. Lebanon is also seeking international military support amidst these tensions.

Lebanon’s President, Joseph Aoun, has given orders for military retaliation following gunfire from the Syrian side of the border amid escalating violence. This confrontation marks one of the most severe instances of cross-border conflict since the ousting of former Syrian President, Bashar Assad, in December. The tensions arose after Syria’s interim government accused Hezbollah militants of kidnapping and killing three soldiers on Lebanese territory.

Information Minister Paul Morkos revealed during a Cabinet meeting that the deceased individuals were characterized as smugglers, adding that the violence resulted in the death of one child and injuries to six others in Lebanon. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that five Syrian soldiers perished during the clashes that occurred on Monday.

Lebanon’s state news agency indicated an intensification of fighting near Hermel on Monday evening. In a statement on platform X, President Aoun asserted, “What is happening along the eastern and northeastern border cannot continue and we will not accept that it continues.” He instructed the Lebanese army to retaliate and urged the foreign minister to engage with Syrian authorities to prevent further escalation.

Violence has been heightened recently, particularly between the Syrian military and armed Lebanese Shiite clans aligned with Assad’s regime. Reports suggest these clans are implicated in the abduction incidents that triggered the latest violence. Both the Lebanese and Syrian armies have initiated communications to mitigate tensions, while a significant number of Lebanese troops have been deployed to manage the situation.

In the fallout from ongoing conflicts, four Syrian journalists embedded with the Syrian army sustained minor injuries from an artillery shell fired from Lebanon. They have accused Hezbollah of orchestrating the attack. Furthermore, Senior Hezbollah legislator Hussein Haj Hassan alleged incursions by Syrian fighters into Lebanese territory, which have targeted border villages.

Lebanon is actively seeking international assistance to bolster military funding as it increases troop presence along its expansive borders with Syria. U.N. envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert has expressed concerns about the potential ramifications of the ongoing Israeli military presence in Lebanon, emphasizing the risk of serious repercussions for stability in the region.

In conclusion, escalating tensions along the Lebanese-Syrian border have prompted Lebanon’s President to order military retaliation in response to violent cross-border incidents. The conflict reflects ongoing struggles involving Hezbollah, Syrian military forces, and Lebanese clans. Lebanon’s government is seeking to strengthen its military capabilities while attempting to engage in diplomatic dialogue to resolve tensions and maintain regional stability.

Original Source: www.independent.co.uk