The Syrian Conflict Continues to Spillover into Lebanon
Wed May 29, 2013 1:9AM GMT
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Mariam Saleh, Press TV, Beirut
More rocket attacks launched by foreign-backed militants in Syria are finding their way to Lebanon’s borders, leaving civilians injured. But the attacks don’t stop there. The Lebanese national army has also been the target of several strikes by insurgents
With more rockets launched by the insurgents in Syria on the Bekaa town of Hermel, Lebanon seems to be caught in the fire of the Syrian crisis.
Seven mortar rockets struck Lebanon’s eastern Hermel region town today wounding some four people, something which has become part of a chain of attacks by foreign-backed militants in Syria.
Earlier in the morning, three Lebanese army soldiers were killed in the Bekaa town of Arsal after their post came under attack by armed men believed to be members of foreign-backed insurgents in Syria.
These events have occurred as the violence between supporters and opponents of the Syrian government in Tripoli continues.
Tripoli’s Alawite Arab Democratic Party says it believes the attacks on the Lebanese Army, the Bekaa town of Hermel, the Southern Suburbs of Beirut and the fighting in Tripoli are being launched by the same group: the foreign-backed militants.
Eid warned that the situation could get out of hand unless all politicians give the Lebanese Army complete coverage in working towards maintaining security and stability.
Experts believe that the main goal of armed insurgents is to clear a route for smuggling arms and gunmen into Syria like they have been doing for the last two years or so:
Most political groups in the country have stressed their support for the Lebanese Army and called on authorities to work hard to prevent such attacks from being repeated.
Hezbollah has called on the Lebanese people to maintain full support for the national Army.
Another issue is the fact that areas near the Syrian border in Lebanon have become hubs and training grounds for armed militants to fight the Syrian army:
The bordering Syrian region of Qusayr was one major point of smuggling for the militants. The latest advances made by the Syrian Army in the area could cut off most of the insurgent’s artillery backup support.
The Syrian army has already taken the issue in its own hands since the armed insurgents still find their way into Syria. Just this afternoon Local media confirmed that the Syrian Army has launched several airstrikes against insurgent posts in areas between the Lebanese and Syrian border, and has managed to strike several rocket launchers drawn towards Lebanon.