BEIRUT – Lebanon and Syria have reached a ceasefire agreement following two days of deadly cross-border clashes that left 10 people dead and dozens injured, both countries’ defense ministries confirmed on Monday.
Casualties and Clashes
The fighting resulted in the deaths of three soldiers from Syria’s new army and seven Lebanese, according to the Syrian Defense Ministry and the Lebanese Health Ministry. An additional 52 Lebanese were wounded.
The mountainous Syria-Lebanon border has remained volatile since Islamist rebels overthrew Syrian President Bashar al-Assad three months ago, forming a new government and army.
Ceasefire and Diplomatic Efforts
The ceasefire was agreed upon by Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa and Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, with both sides committing to ongoing military intelligence coordination to prevent further escalation.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji met with his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shibani in Brussels to discuss the border situation and pledged continued communication.
Hezbollah’s Alleged Involvement
The Syrian Defense Ministry accused Hezbollah of crossing into Syria and kidnapping and executing the three Syrian soldiers, but Hezbollah denied any involvement.
However, a Lebanese security source claimed the Syrian soldiers had first entered Lebanon, where they were killed by armed tribesmen fearing an attack on their town. This led to Syrian shelling of Lebanese border villages overnight, forcing many residents of Al-Qasr to flee inland.
Military Reinforcements on Both Sides
Lebanon’s army stated it had returned the bodies of the three Syrian soldiers and deployed reinforcements to the border. Meanwhile, Syria responded by sending troops and tanks to the frontier, with Syrian soldiers firing into the air as they moved through towns.
“Large military reinforcements were brought in to reinforce positions along the Syrian-Lebanese border and prevent any breaches in the coming days,” said Maher Ziwani, a Syrian army division commander.
Both countries now face the challenge of maintaining the fragile ceasefire while addressing the deeper political and military tensions in the region.