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Lebanon and Syria reach ceasefire agreement after deadly border clashes
Lebanon and Syria have agreed on a ceasefire following deadly clashes along their shared border, which resulted in 10 deaths over the past two days. Lebanese Defence Minister Michel Menassa and Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra confirmed the agreement in statements on Monday. The cross-border violence left three Syrian soldiers and seven Lebanese nationals dead. Additionally, 52 people were injured on the Lebanese side.
The ministers also pledged to maintain communication between their respective military intelligence agencies to prevent further escalations. The border region has seen rising tensions, particularly since Islamist rebels recently overthrew Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, an ally of Iran, and established their own forces and government.
In a related diplomatic development, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Raji met with his Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Shibani, in Brussels to discuss the situation and agreed to continue dialogue.
The Syrian Defence Ministry accused Hezbollah of crossing into Syrian territory and kidnapping the three Syrian soldiers, an allegation that Hezbollah denied. However, a Lebanese security source reported that the Syrian soldiers initially crossed into Lebanon, where they were killed by armed locals who feared an attack on their town.
In retaliation, Syrian forces shelled Lebanese border towns, prompting many residents in Al-Qasr to flee inland to avoid the bombardment. Lebanon’s army announced it had handed over the bodies of the slain soldiers to Syria and responded with fire after the shelling.
Syria then deployed a convoy of soldiers and tanks to the border to reinforce its positions and deter further breaches. Syrian military officials emphasized the need for heightened security measures in the region.