Lebanon Responds to Syrian Gunfire Amid Escalating Border Tensions

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has ordered military retaliation against gunfire from Syria amid escalating border tensions. This conflict has intensified due to allegations of Hezbollah militants abducting and killing Syrian soldiers. Casualties have been reported on both sides, and Lebanon seeks international support for its military as tensions escalate along the borders.

On Monday, Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun ordered the military to respond to gunfire originating from Syria, amidst escalating tensions along their shared border. This decision follows an uptick in violence between the Syrian military and Lebanese Shiite clans supportive of former President Bashar al-Assad, sparked by accusations that Hezbollah militants abducted and killed three Syrian soldiers over the weekend.

The conflict marks a significant intensification of cross-border hostilities since Assad’s ouster in December, with the Syrian Army purportedly shelling Hezbollah positions that allegedly caused Syrian casualties. In a cabinet meeting, Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morkos clarified that those killed were identified as smugglers, while noting casualties on the Lebanese side, including the death of a child.

Reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights indicated five Syrian soldiers lost their lives during the latest clashes, with local media depicting families fleeing from Hermel, a town in Lebanon. As tensions mounted, President Aoun asserted, “What is happening along the eastern and northeastern border cannot continue and we will not accept that it continues,” asserting that he instructed the Lebanese army to retaliate against the source of the gunfire.

In addition to military actions, President Aoun has directed the foreign minister, currently engaged in a conference in Brussels, to reach out to Syrian officials to mitigate the situation and forestall further conflict. It is worth noting that tensions recently surged due to conflicts involving the Syrian military and Lebanese Shiite clans, particularly near Al-Qasr, a border village affiliated with Assad’s regime.

Both Lebanese and Syrian military forces have reportedly initiated communication channels to alleviate the ongoing strife. Further developments included the return of the deceased Syrians’ bodies by the Lebanese military, while low-level skirmishes persisted with an attack on a Syrian military vehicle. Meanwhile, four Syrian journalists embedded with the Syrian army were injured due to artillery shelling from the Lebanese side, prompting accusations against Hezbollah from the reporters involved.

In light of these circumstances, Lebanon is actively seeking international assistance to reinforce military funding, as the country continues to bolster troop deployments along its vulnerable borders with Syria and Israel.

Lebanon is embroiled in escalating tensions with Syria, triggered largely by cross-border violence involving Hezbollah and Syrian government forces. President Aoun has called for military retaliation, underscoring the need to halt ongoing aggression. This situation is exacerbated by internal conflicts and external pressures, resulting in casualties and necessitating increased international military support for Lebanon’s borders.

Original Source: www.france24.com