[News] Lebanese army faces repeated attacks by militants on Syrian border

[Anti-Imperialist News]

 Lebanese army faces repeated attacks by militants on Syrian border

Five Lebanese soldiers have been wounded by attacks against their positions
from armed groups on the Syrian border

News Desk <https://thecradle.co/authors/news-desk-9>

JAN 3, 2025 -
https://thecradle.co/articles/lebanese-army-faces-repeated-attacks-by-militants-on-syrian-border
(Photo credit: X)

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) announced
<https://sarabic.ae/20250103/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B9-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7-%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AD-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D9%80%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%A9-1096446665.html>
in a statement on 3 January that its soldiers clashed with Syrian armed
elements on Lebanon’s northern border with Syria after the militants
attempted to forcibly open a border crossing with a bulldozer.

“While an army unit was working to close an illegal crossing on the
Lebanese–Syrian border in the Maarboun–Baalbek area, Syrians attempted to
open the crossing using a bulldozer, so army personnel fired warning shots
into the air, and the Syrians opened fire,” the LAF said.

A Lebanese soldier was wounded in the clash, it added. “The army units
deployed in the sector have taken strict military measures, and the
necessary follow-up is being conducted on the incident.” Hours later on
Friday, the Lebanese army announced renewed clashes with militants on the
Syrian border after another attack on LAF troops and the injury of four
soldiers.

The attacks coincided with reports that Syrian authorities have restricted
the entry of Lebanese citizens to Syria via the border. Some exceptions
have been made, however, according to *Reuters*
<https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-restricts-entry-lebanese-via-joint-border-sources-say-2025-01-03/>
.

Similar clashes took place last month between the Lebanese army and Hayat
Tahrir al-Sham-led (HTS
<https://thecradle.co/articles/french-german-officials-make-first-visit-to-hts-ruled-syria>)
armed groups that took over Syria after the collapse of former president
Bashar al-Assad's government on 8 December.

HTS was previously known by the names of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, Jaish
al-Fatah, and the Nusra Front – which was Al-Qaeda’s official branch in
Syria.

It was responsible for suicide bombings in Lebanon and the kidnapping and
killing of many Lebanese soldiers between 2014 and 2017 – which was the
height of Hezbollah’s campaign against extremist groups inside Syria and
its joint efforts with the LAF in repelling Nusra Front and ISIS fighters
who had taken control over large areas in the barrens of Ras Baalbek and
Arsal in the north.

The US removed its bounty on HTS’s leader Ahmad al-Sharaa – also known as
former Al-Qaeda and ISIS chief Abu Mohammad al-Julani. Officials from
Washington, Paris, and Berlin have visited Syria and held talks with the
transitional authority Sharaa's organization has appointed.

The new HTS de facto government has failed to prevent sectarian attacks on
Christians and Alawites by its forces, and has introduced controversial and
extremist reforms to Syria’s educational system. Meanwhile, Israeli troops
continue to attack Syria and expand their military presence in its south,
where they have taken control over key water sources and strategic vantage
points.

The attack on the northern Lebanese border came as Israeli forces continue
to advance in southern Lebanon and violate the ceasefire announced on 27
November – the same day HTS-led forces began their assault that resulted in
the toppling of Assad’s government.

The 60-day ceasefire period in which the LAF is supposed to implement UN
Resolution 1701 is due to finish at the end of this month, yet Israel is
said to be preparing for a long-term stay in south Lebanon.

The Israeli army issued warnings
<https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/justice-law/749693/%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%AF%D9%88-%D9%8A%D8%AD%D8%B0%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%89-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%AF>to
Lebanese civilians in several southern towns on 3 January, ordering them
not to move beyond a certain point until further notice.

It also set fire to homes in the southern town of Houla, and advanced
<https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/justice-law/749686/%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%83%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%83%D9%84%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%A8%D8%B1>
from Kfar Kila towards Burj al-Muluk, where they set up metal wires and
barriers to block the road.
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