Syria Thwarts Infiltration of ‘Terrorist’ Group from Lebanon

Syrian authorities thwarted on Monday night the infiltration of an “armed terrorist group” from Lebanon into Syria, reported SANA news agency on Tuesday.

It said that the group was attempting to enter Reef Homs in Syria from northern Lebanon.

A number of the members of the group have been arrested, added SANA.

This is the second time in less than a week that Syrian authorities foil an attempt by an “armed terrorist group” to infiltrate Syria from Lebanon.

A similar incident took place on Saturday where SANA reported that authorities had uncovered an infiltration attempt.

It said that a number of the “terrorist group” members were killed and injured during clashes with the Syrian forces as the others fled back into Lebanese territories.

“The Syrian authorities foiled an attempt by an armed terrorist group that tried to infiltrate from Lebanon into Syria near the border village of Baayoun near Tall Kalakh,” SANA said.

The state-run news agency also reported that the Syrian forces confiscated “Dushka machine-gun, automatic rifles, explosives and bombs.”

The United Nations says more than 9,000 people have been killed in the crackdown by President Bashar Assad's forces on the Arab Spring-inspired uprising that began with pro-democracy protests.

The border area is used by smugglers and by Syrians fleeing the violence in their country to Lebanon.

Lebanon and Syria share a 330-kilometer border but have yet to agree on official demarcation.