Security Committee Probing Killing of 3 Lebanese by Syrian Army in Wadi Khaled

A security committee is investigating an incident in which Syrian troops killed three Lebanese men after opening fire on their vehicle in the northern border area of Wadi Khaled, an army source said.

“A committee tasked with investigating the incident immediately began its work,” the source told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in remarks published Thursday.

“It is the army’s duty to control the border,” the source said when asked about continued demands to deploy troops along the border and control the security situation.

While stressing that security forces are deployed along illegal crossings, the source said it was difficult to “control every meter.”

Kasser Hussein al-Zeit and his brother Ahmed, who hail from the Syrian town of Heit, and their cousin Maher Ali al-Zeit, who resides in Majdal in Wadi Khaled, were laid to rest on Wednesday.

During their funerals, angry residents chanted slogans against Syrian President Bashar Assad. They later held a protest asking the government to protect residents and to investigate the shooting.

The three men were killed when Syrian troops opened fire on their Mercedes 300 from across the border. Security sources told Asharq al-Awsat that the vehicle had 34 bullet holes.