Beirut: Lebanon has detained at least two Syrian soldiers who crossed its border to escape clashes between security forces and protesters, activists say. The soldiers reportedly fled after opening fire on pro-regime militiamen attacking civilians near a border checkpoint they were manning. A third soldier is said to have been killed. Activists have appealed to the Lebanese army not to hand the soldiers back.
There has so far been no comment from the Lebanese or Syrian authorities.
Syrian civilians who have poured over the Lebanese border in recent days say security forces have surrounded the western town of Tal Kalakh and the nearby village of Arida, and launched a brutal crackdown.
At least 16 people have been killed and scores arrested, activists say.
“They destroyed the houses, they cut electricity and water. The wounded are dying in our hands and the dead are strewn on the streets,” a Tal Kalakh resident told the media by telephone.
Nabil Halabi, the head of the Lebanese Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, said the soldiers had been manning a checkpoint close to the border when a group of civilians tried to cross into Lebanon.
The civilians came under fire from border guards and members of an armed gang loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad known as “shabiha”, he added.
“The shabiha and Syrian border guards opened fire on refugees headed for the Wadi Khaled region, as well as on Lebanese who were waiting on the other side of the border,” he told the media.
Some soldiers shot back at the security forces and three were wounded in the exchange, one of them fatally, Halabi said.
He said Lebanese army intelligence agents had taken away “the two soldiers and the corpse”, and that he feared they would be deported to Syria where there would be at risk of torture and execution.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription