Ali Says Syrian Army Responding to Sources of Fire along Lebanese Border

Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali stressed on Saturday that the Syrian Army is responding to the sources of fire along the Lebanese border to preserve the country's stability.

“The Syrian territories are attacked by gunmen, from various nationalities, who are entering Lebanon and violating the sovereignty of Lebanon and Syria,” Ali said after talks with Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour at the Bustros Palace.

He stated that the two countries are coordinating their measures, pointing out that the memos handed over to the foreign ministry are to brief the Lebanese state on the enormous violations targeting Syria.

“We are responding to the sources of fire targeting Syrian territories, border and nationals,” Ali told reporters.

Two men were killed last week in the Wadi Khaled area that borders Syrian in northern Lebanon.

Artillery, mortar fire and automatic weapons were used in battles between Syrian troops and fighters on the Lebanese side of the border overnight Saturday to Sunday, said a senior Lebanese security official.

A local Lebanese official told Agence France Presse that some of those involved in the fighting on the Lebanese side were members of the dead man's clan.

The violence in Syria has increasingly spilled over into Lebanon, with cross-border shelling in the north and east.

Ali denied that the meeting was held under Mansour's request, saying that he asked for the meeting that was held to coordinate measures between the two countries.

“The unsteady situation in Lebanon is due to the cumulative number of armed men and the presence of foster environments for them and for extremists,” he said.

Asked about reports saying that camps will be set inside Syrian territories for refugees, the diplomat said that Syrian authorities formed committees tasked with resolving the difficult situations of the refugees in Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Turkey.

“We are seeking to provide the refugees with safe shelters and their needs,” Ali added.

Around 97 percent of the refugees have fled to neighboring Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq.

Lebanon is currently hosting around 300,000 Syrian refugees.