Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has mandated military retaliation following gunfire from Syria, escalating cross-border tensions. The situation intensified after accusations towards Hezbollah for abducting Syrian soldiers. Lebanese defense officials acknowledged casualties, prompting diplomatic communications to avert further conflict while calling for international military support.
On Monday, Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun ordered military retaliation against gunfire originating from Syria, reflecting escalating tensions along the border. This decision follows violence involving the Syrian military and Lebanese Shiite clans supportive of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, with notable incidents of cross-border skirmishes recently increasing.
The latest hostilities were ignited after Syria’s interim government accused the Hezbollah group of breaching Syrian territory, resulting in the abduction and death of three soldiers on Lebanese soil. This series of events has marked the most severe conflict since Bashar Assad’s ouster in December.
According to an unnamed official from the Syrian Defence Ministry, Syrian forces shelled positions associated with Hezbollah that resulted in the death of Syrian soldiers. Hezbollah, however, has categorically denied these allegations. Information Minister Paul Morkos remarked that the three deceased were deemed smugglers and noted casualties, including the death of a child and injuries to six individuals on the Lebanese side.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported five Syrian soldiers had died during the clashes. For context, footage portraying displaced families near the Lebanese town of Hermel circulated across media platforms, indicating the residential impact of the violence.
President Aoun emphasized on X that the ongoing situation along the eastern border is intolerable, directing the Lebanese army to respond to the source of the aggression. He also urged Lebanon’s foreign minister, currently in Brussels, to engage with Syrian officials to mitigate escalation.
Tensions in the region have escalated due to recent encounters between the Syrian military and Lebanese Shiite clans allied with the Assad regime, specifically in Lebanon’s Al-Qasr border area. Reports indicate these clans were implicated in the abductions that triggered the recent flare-up. In a response effort, Lebanon has established communication channels with Syria to alleviate the situation, and military operations returned the remains of the three deceased Syrians, alongside a deployment of additional Lebanese troops to the border region.
Incidents of low-level fighting continued early Monday after an assault on a Syrian military vehicle, yielding unclear casualty figures. Furthermore, four Syrian journalists were slightly injured after artillery fire from Lebanese territory targeted their position. Hezbollah’s Hussein Haj Hassan has alleged that Syrian fighters invaded Lebanese areas and attacked border communities.
In light of these developments, Lebanon is advocating for international assistance to bolster military funding, especially as it maintains troop presence along its vulnerable northern and eastern boundaries with Syria, as well as its southern border adjacent to Israel.
Lebanon’s response to escalating cross-border tensions with Syria underscores the fragile security situation in the region. As President Joseph Aoun implements military retaliation against Syrian fire, there is a critical emphasis on diplomatic measures to avoid further conflict. The ongoing skirmishes have highlighted the involvement of Hezbollah and local militias, demonstrating the complexity of Lebanon’s border dynamics and the pressing need for international support to strengthen national defense efforts.
Original Source: www.france24.com
