Syria Troops Plant Mines in al-Qaa
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Syrian troops on Wednesday crossed into Lebanon's eastern border region of Masharii al-Qaa and planted mines around the home of a local resident before withdrawing, a Lebanese security official told Agence France Presse.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the troops entered some 300 meters inside Lebanese territory and placed the mines outside the home of Mohammed Akil.
It was unclear why Akil was targeted.
The Syrian army has in the past planted mines along its side of the border but Wednesday's incursion marks the first time it has entered Lebanese territory to do so.
Earlier Wednesday, Syrian troops also briefly kidnapped a Lebanese man during a cross-border raid in the same region, the official said.
He said the troops abducted Khaled al-Hujairi in Arsal, a remote area located along the border, and set fire to a shed belonging to the head of the municipality Ali al-Hujairi.
A family member contacted by Agence France Presse said Hujairi was later handed over to the Lebanese army.
The mainly Sunni Muslim regions of Arsal and Masharii al-Qaa straddle both countries and are used as escape routes by Syrians fleeing the unrest in their country.
Syrian troops have carried out a number of cross-border raids into Lebanon since the outbreak of the revolt against the regime of President Bashar Assad, sparking fears of a spillover of the conflict.
13 June 2012, 20:02
01
In what sense? Is the Lebanese army in any position to act? It is busy enough trying to stop the fighting in Lebanon. Even when the IDF was crossing the border to remove a tree, the army waited a while and consulted the UN and the IDF before it started shooting. Things are not so simple.
But in terms of what happened, I agree that it is wrong. Whether Israeli or Syrian, nobody should be allowed to play with our country like this.
13 June 2012, 15:13
08
Planting mines on our soil??? I wonder if government will file a complain with the UN.
13 June 2012, 15:25
37
The government is pro-syrian...they don't care about sovereignty!
13 June 2012, 15:29
08
Mr Nessrallah you claim you are the resistence defending Lebanon's sovereinghty,prove it.
13 June 2012, 15:59
24
how can WE:
- believe them when they talk of dissaciating themselves?
- trust the aarmy who does nothing to defend our soil and its citizens?
- believe hizbushaitan when they say they are a resistance?
- believe that aoun is a patriotic?
-... believe any word m8 says?
this is all BS, and we need to defend ourselves.
13 June 2012, 16:11
07
Our army is expected to remove the mines or will they just remain idle? Unless Mr Mohammed Akil is supposed to take care of the problem himself? Hopeless country... Assad doesn't realise, but by acting this way he puts pressure on his allies in the current government. Perhaps we should be grateful?
13 June 2012, 16:15
10
Why is AFP the source of this reporting and not AnNahar's own reporters?
Something does not smell right.
13 June 2012, 16:51
05
I would like Hassan Nasrullahi to tackle this issue during his next step.
What is Hezbs. Standpoint on this issue?
What are they going to do?
Maybe it´s time to redirect some of the Katyushas..
13 June 2012, 17:20
05
This is funny, not a single Syrian/Iranian puppet have posted a single response to this article, what a corrupt government.
13 June 2012, 18:31
04
Q'aa is 6 and a half miles inside Lebanese territory from the Syrian border. For comparables in teh south, it would be an Israeli incursion on the coast road past Nabatieh to Iskandarouna; in the central district of the South, almost to Tibnine which is a bit more than 7 miles from the Israeli border; and in the eastern sector, well past the Litani river line. Now I know there are some disputes about where the line is between Syria and Lebanon, but 6.5 miles? That's not even close.
Did the Resistance deploy to defend Lebanese sovereignty and honor from this violation of national territory?? Did it? Hell no it didn't, so let's all stop calling Hezbollah's arms "resistance arms" they resist nothing anymore except the will of the Lebanese people to live free.
13 June 2012, 20:05
03
Are you sure it's 6 and 1/2 miles? the official "quoted" in this article claims it was 300 meters inside Lebanese territories, either way it's a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and should be dealt with , the Army should intervene and protect the border and a complaint should be filed with the UN, otherwise this government of puppets should resign, resistance , what resistance , this is a sectarian party at best, true resistance would include Lebanese from all walks of life, all sects and if anyone believes they will give up their arms via negotiations is highly mistaken.
13 June 2012, 19:56
04
kidnappings, shootings and now they plant mines and not a SINGLE word from the so called "resistance" pretending to fight for the sovereignty of lebanon! not a word from M8 either... as if this part of lebanon what not part of the country, or do they consider that the syrians can do whatever they want and in a few weeks they ll thanked them again?
poor irresponsible M8 leaders and gvt....
13 June 2012, 21:02
04
@fadi_albeiruti, on GoogleEarth, its 6.5 miles from the designated international border to Q'aa. Whether the land mines were placed all the way in the city or in the vicinity of Q'aa may make a difference. They usually refer to the closest town when describing where an incident too place. 300 meters is still a violation of the nation's sovereignty by anyone's yardstick.
14 June 2012, 12:31
00
Any comments FT sermeye the Irani?What about you Mouwateh El Capullo?
Keserwene el battal ou reformist?Waynkoun Wlo ???
