The Lebanese Army said it had responded to incoming fire from across the Syrian border on Saturday, two days after the new authorities in Damascus said they had launched operations against smugglers in the area.
Following directives from President Joseph Aoun, the Army command said it had "issued orders to military units deployed on the northern and eastern borders to respond to the sources of fire launched from Syrian territory.” It added, "These units have begun responding with appropriate weapons in light of recent clashes."
As part of the campaign they claim to have launched against traffickers of all kinds on the border with Lebanon, the new Syrian administration forces had bombed Lebanese villages. Their inhabitants retaliated, and clashes have been taking place for the past three days between members of Lebanese clans and Syrian armed elements.
Fire from the Syrian side of the border hit a Lebanese Army control tower.
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