France 'Strongly Condemns' Syria Attack on Arsal: Threatening Civil Peace in Lebanon is Unacceptable

France condemned on Thursday the latest Syrian attack on the eastern town of Arsal, slamming “attempts to threaten civil peace in Lebanon as unacceptable.”

"France strongly condemns the raids on Arsal and we consider it a violation of Lebanese sovereignty,” said French foreign ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot.

"All provocations and attempts to threaten civil peace in Lebanon are unacceptable, whoever is the party responsible for them.”

A Syrian airstrike targeting Arsal injured at least one person on Wednesday, triggering the army to issue a rare warning against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The military institution announced that it will immediately respond to any further cross-border attacks.

"Army units deployed in the (Arsal) area took the necessary defensive measures to respond immediately to any similar violations," an army statement said.

Meanwhile, President Michel Suleiman stated that Lebanon "has the right to take the necessary measures to defend its sovereignty," urging an end to the "Syrian violations" against Arsal.

The United States on Wednesday also condemned the raid on the eastern town, calling it an "unacceptable provocation which risked dragging Lebanon into war.