Al-Merehbi to Naharnet: Army Arrested Syrians after Seeking Medical Care in North
The Lebanese army intelligence has arrested a group of Syrian and Lebanese men at a checkpoint that lies between Akkar and Hermel, MP Moeen al-Merehbi told Naharnet on Wednesday.
The Akkar lawmaker said the arrest was made at al-Rouwayma checkpoint on Tuesday as the men were heading to Syria through the eastern border town of Arsal following their hospitalization in northern Lebanon.
Only one of the Syrians, a student, was referred to the General Security Department, the Mustaqbal MP told Naharnet.
“This is unacceptable and I don’t know if there has been coordination between the army intelligence and the (Syrian) regime to obstruct their return to Syria,” al-Merehbi said.
Naharnet received information that the group included five Syrians. Sources told the website that two of them – Ziad Mustafa and Bilal Amer - had sought medical care in Abi Samra hospital in the northern city of Tripoli.
The sources identified the other Syrians as Seif Amer Daoud, Omar Qimi and Ahmed Omar al-Amr.
They said the army intelligence also arrested a Lebanese man named Mohammed Ali Khaled, who was driving the vehicle taking them to Syria, and his brother, a soldier.
Injured Syrian refugees have regularly crossed into Lebanon in recent weeks to seek medical care.
In November, the Syrian army planted landmines along parts of the country’s border with Lebanon in a bid to curb arms smuggling and hampering army defectors and refugees from fleeing.
Source: Naharnet
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/26236 |