Lebanon Declares Retaliation as Border Violence with Syria Escalates

Lebanon has declared military retaliation for gunfire from Syria as tensions escalate along their border. President Aoun attributed increased violence to Hezbollah’s involvement in recent cross-border abductions. The Lebanese army is now bolstered on the border, while diplomatic communications are being sought to stave off further conflicts. Additionally, Lebanon seeks international military support to manage its border crises.

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has ordered military retaliation against gunfire from Syrian forces as cross-border tensions rise. This decision follows increased violence along the Lebanese-Syrian border, especially involving the Syrian military and armed Lebanese Shiite groups allied with the ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. Recently, clashes intensified after accusations that Lebanese Hezbollah militants abducted and killed three Syrian soldiers on Lebanese soil.

The Syrian interim government charged that Hezbollah crossed into Syria to carry out the abductions. In response, an unnamed Syrian Defence Ministry official claimed that the Syrian army targeted Hezbollah gatherings, resulting in casualties among Syrian soldiers, an assertion Hezbollah denied. According to Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morkos, the casualties included smugglers, with reports of additional civilian injuries on the Lebanese side, including the death of a child.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, reported that five Syrian soldiers died during the recent clashes. Videos circulating online showed families fleeing towards Lebanon’s Hermel. President Aoun emphasized the need for resolve, stating, “What is happening along the eastern and northeastern border cannot continue and we will not accept that it continues.”

He ordered Lebanon’s foreign minister to contact Syrian officials to deescalate tensions. Reports indicate that armed Lebanese Shiite clans, linked with the former Assad regime, were involved in the recent violence, further complicating the situation. Both Lebanese and Syrian military officials have established communication channels to mitigate tensions, with Lebanese forces deploying troops in vulnerable areas and returning the bodies of three slain Syrians.

Despite low-level fighting persisting, including an attack on a Syrian military vehicle, the situation remains tense. Early reports also noted that four Syrian journalists from the army sustained minor injuries from an artillery shell from Lebanon. Senior Hizbollah legislator Hussein Haj Hassan claimed Syrian fighters crossed into Lebanon to attack border villages, stressing ongoing risks to stability in the region.

Lebanon is actively seeking international assistance to enhance military funding, particularly along its borders with Syria and Israel, as its military presence increases to prevent further escalations.

Lebanon is taking decisive military measures in response to escalating tensions with Syria, which have been exacerbated by recent border clashes involving Hezbollah and Syrian forces. The Lebanese government, under President Aoun, is seeking to manage and mitigate any further violence, while also pursuing international support for military funding to secure its borders more effectively. The situation remains precarious with ongoing skirmishes and mutual accusations between both sides.

Original Source: www.france24.com