Lebanese clans kill and capture HTS members as Lebanese homes blown up in Syria
Armed clashes erupted Thursday in the Syrian-Lebanese border region between the Zoaiter and Jaafar Lebanese clans and fighters from Syria’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which consist the core of Syria’s new Islamist-led authorities, media reports said.
“The Lebanese clans seized military equipment, killing two HTS members and capturing two others in the Syrian border town of Hawik, which has been historically inhabited by Lebanese residents,” the reports said.
A shell meanwhile landed on the outskirts of the Lebanese border town of al-Qasr, wounding one person, reportedly a Lebanese Army soldier.
“Following clashes for more than two hours between HTS members and the clans, HTS forces entered the Syrian town of Hawik and Lebanese residents left the town for Lebanese territory, amid the blowing up of some houses at the hands of the HTS,” reports said.
Fierce clashes were also reported in the Syrian area of Jirmash on Lebanon’s border, also between the area’s clans and Syria’s new authorities.
The Lebanese Army meanwhile sent major reinforcements to the border area to prevent the entry of gunmen into Lebanese territory.
According to VDL radio (93.3) , light-, medium- and heavy-caliber weapons were used in the clashes.
Annahar newspaper for its part said that “the Lebanese town of Hawik which overlaps with the Syrian border has come under fierce shelling from Syria’s new administration from the neighboring town of Heet.”
“Mortar shells and 23mm anti-aircraft guns were used, as a number of residents sought to confront its efforts to erect checkpoints in the area to reinforce its authority and halt smuggling,” the daily said.
A senior official from the new Syrian administration meanwhile told Annahar that “military reinforcements arrived yesterday, Wednesday in the area with the aim of securing the border and closing illegal crossings.”
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/310879 |