Syria and Lebanon Finalize Ceasefire Pact to Bolster Border Cooperation
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Synopsis
On March 18, Syria and Lebanon established a ceasefire agreement to enhance military coordination along their shared border, aiming to reduce tensions and prevent conflicts. This follows recent escalations involving Hezbollah, as Syria accuses the group of violent actions against its military personnel and journalists.
Key Takeaways
- Syria and Lebanon have signed a ceasefire agreement.
- The agreement aims to enhance military cooperation along the border.
- Recent tensions involve accusations against Hezbollah.
- Security operations are underway to clear Hezbollah from certain territories.
- Casualties have been reported due to ongoing clashes.
Damascus, March 18 (NationPress) Syria and Lebanon have successfully reached a ceasefire agreement aimed at establishing peace along their mutual border while enhancing military collaboration, as announced by Syria's defense authorities.
This agreement, forged between the defense entities of both nations, seeks to reduce tensions and avert further conflicts in the border area, according to a report from Xinhua news agency.
The announcement made on Monday follows a recent intensification of hostilities involving Syria and Hezbollah, after Damascus accused the group of abducting and executing three Syrian soldiers near the border—an accusation that Hezbollah has strongly denied. Furthermore, Syria has held Hezbollah accountable for a targeted attack on journalists and shelling a water facility in western Homs, which has escalated tensions.
Earlier that day, Syria's defense officials declared the initiation of a security operation aimed at clearing border villages west of Qusayr in Homs province, targeting Hezbollah positions believed to be involved in smuggling and illegal trade.
According to a military statement cited by the state-operated SANA news agency, the military's focus is on removing Hezbollah fighters from Syrian territories where they have operated since the previous regime.
"Our primary objective is to reclaim the Syrian village of Housh al-Sayyid Ali, which has turned into a Hezbollah stronghold," the statement detailed, adding that Syrian forces will engage Hezbollah gatherings and movements in the vicinity to support the operation.
Lebanese health authorities reported on Monday that seven individuals have lost their lives and 52 others sustained injuries over two days of clashes along the Lebanese-Syrian border.
In a statement, Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center, which is part of the Ministry of Public Health, indicated that the casualties included a 15-year-old boy. It has urged all hospitals, especially those located near the affected regions, to promptly admit the wounded.
The Syrian military's latest initiative signals an increasing confrontation with Hezbollah, which has long maintained a foothold in strategically significant border regions.
