Egypt Daily News – The Syrian army accuses Hezbollah of killing three of its soldiers. The three troops, reportedly members of the General Security forces, were killed near the Lebanese border in a shooting incident with conflicting reports about its cause. Meanwhile, Lebanese security agencies have launched an investigation into the incident.
Lebanese security sources said that the three individuals “had entered Lebanese territory before being killed, and their bodies were transported by the army and handed over to the Syrian side through the official Jousieh crossing,” confirming that “the incident is linked to smuggling gangs.”
They suggested that the Syrian security personnel were chasing smugglers in the overlapping border areas when gunfire broke out, leading to their deaths.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported that the Lebanese Red Cross transported three bodies found near the earthen berm in the border town of Al-Qasr to Hermel Governmental Hospital in northeastern Lebanon. Security agencies are investigating the incident.
The agency also noted “a state of tension on the border north of Hermel, with medium-caliber gunfire coming from Syrian territory toward Al-Qasr.”
Syrian reinforcements sent to the border
For its part, the Syrian Ministry of Defense stated that three of its personnel were killed by Hezbollah, affirming that it “will take all necessary measures in response to Hezbollah’s serious escalation.”
SANA quoted the ministry’s media office as saying that “a group from the Hezbollah militia ambushed and kidnapped three army members at the Lebanese border before taking them into Lebanese territory and executing them.”
Media outlets also reported that the army was sending military reinforcements to the border with Lebanon.
Hezbollah denies involvement
In response, Hezbollah issued a statement “categorically denying any involvement in the events that took place today on the Lebanese-Syrian border.”
The statement added, “We reaffirm what we have repeatedly stated: Hezbollah has no connection to any events occurring inside Syrian territory.”
Lebanese media reported displacement movements from villages along the border toward Hermel as shelling intensified. Meanwhile, sources stated that the deceased were members of the Ministry of Defense and that their bodies had been transported into Lebanon. A Syrian General Security source in Al-Qusayr said they belonged to the elite forces of the army’s 103rd Brigade and had mistakenly entered Lebanese territory while chasing armed individuals and smugglers.
