Eight Syrian Refugees Hurt in Drone Blast in Lebanon
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On April 25, eight Syrian refugees were injured in a drone explosion in Hosh Al-Sayyid Ali, Lebanon. The incident highlights ongoing tensions along the Lebanon-Syria border, which has seen increased military activity and allegations of cross-border attacks despite recent agreements to cease hostilities.
Key Takeaways
- Eight Syrian refugees injured in a drone explosion.
- The incident occurred in Hosh Al-Sayyid Ali, near the Syrian border.
- Syria accused Hezbollah of artillery shelling.
- No immediate casualties reported from the Syrian side.
- Lebanon and Syria recently agreed to improve border security.
Beirut/Damascus, April 25 (NationPress) Eight Syrian refugees sustained injuries when a booby-trapped drone detonated on a farm located in the eastern Lebanese town of Hosh Al-Sayyid Ali, as reported by media outlets.
The Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) disclosed on Thursday that the drone was rigged and exploded near the Syrian border, with the eight injured individuals being rushed to medical facilities in Hermel, a city in eastern Lebanon.
On the same day, Syrian officials accused Lebanon's Hezbollah militia of launching artillery shells toward Syrian army positions near Al-Qusayr in the Homs province of western Syria, according to Xinhua news agency.
Five shells were fired from Lebanese soil targeting the Syrian army in the Al-Qusayr region, prompting a retaliatory response from the army, as stated by Syria's state-run SANA news agency, which cited a defense source.
The Syrian forces ceased their fire toward Lebanon after coordinating with the Lebanese army, which indicated it would search the area and pursue the terrorist groups responsible for the incident.
No immediate reports of casualties or damages were noted from the Syrian side.
These occurrences transpired despite an agreement made in March between Syria and Lebanon to cease hostilities along their mutual border and enhance military cooperation.
The Lebanon-Syria border has historically been a hotspot for unrest, featuring frequent reports of smuggling and armed activities.
Last month, the Defense Ministers of Lebanon and Syria signed a pact aimed at tackling border security threats following clashes that resulted in 10 fatalities.
We are in communication with the Lebanese army to assess the situation and have halted targeting the sources of fire at the army's request, the statement emphasized.
Earlier in March, Syria's new authorities accused Hezbollah of abducting three soldiers into Lebanese territory and subsequently killing them.
The Iran-backed group, which fought alongside the forces of ousted Syrian President Bashar al Assad, has denied any involvement, yet the subsequent cross-border clashes resulted in seven Lebanese fatalities.
