Lebanon’s President Orders Military Action Amid Heightening Border Tensions with Syria

Lebanon’s President has ordered military retaliation against Syrian gunfire amid escalating border violence primarily involving Hezbollah and Syrian forces. Clashes have resulted in fatalities and injuries, provoking Lebanon to seek diplomatic resolution while bolstering military presence along the border.

On Monday, Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun mandated a military response to gunfire originating from Syria, following a significant surge in border tensions. Violence has intensified in the region, principally involving the Syrian military and Lebanese Shiite clans loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad. The latest confrontations come after accusations that Hezbollah militants abducted and killed three Syrian soldiers on Lebanese territory over the weekend.

The clashes marked the gravest cross-border conflict since the removal of Bashar al-Assad in December. An official from the Syrian News Channel reported that the Syrian army targeted Hezbollah positions in retaliation for the deaths of Syrian soldiers. However, Hezbollah denied these claims in a statement issued on the same day.

Lebanon’s Information Minister, Paul Morkos, confirmed that Lebanese officials regarded the deceased as smugglers. Reports indicated that the conflict resulted in fatalities and injuries on both sides, including one child on the Lebanese side and at least five Syrian soldiers.

As tensions escalated, President Aoun insisted that the ongoing cross-border incidents could not persist. He instructed the Lebanese army to counter any fire and urged Lebanon’s foreign minister, currently attending a donors conference in Brussels, to liaise with Syrian officials to mitigate the situation and prevent further hostility.

The recent violence is attributed to the Syrian military’s engagement with armed Lebanese clans, with many involved in the recent abduction incident. In efforts to de-escalate the situation, both Lebanese and Syrian armies have communicated to ease tensions. Meanwhile, additional Lebanese forces have been deployed to the region.

Reports revealed that low-level, sporadic fighting occurred early Monday, following an assault on a Syrian military vehicle. In a separate incident, four Syrian journalists embedded with the army suffered minor injuries from artillery fire originating from Lebanon, which they attributed to Hezbollah militants. Senior Hezbollah member Hussein Haj Hassan alleged that Syrian combatants had infiltrated Lebanese territory to assault border villages. Lebanon is actively seeking international assistance to bolster military funding while deploying troops along its borders with Syria and Israel.

In summary, Lebanon is poised to retaliate following violent incidents along its border with Syria that have resulted in casualties on both sides. With heightened tensions attributed to Hezbollah and Syrian military engagements, President Joseph Aoun has mandated military action to preempt further conflict. Efforts to de-escalate are ongoing, as Lebanon seeks international help to strengthen its border security.

Original Source: www.france24.com