U.S. Says Syria Bombing Lebanon 'Absolutely Unacceptable', Violates Sovereignty
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland condemned on Monday the Syrian bombing of Lebanese border regions, stating that “this step violates the country's sovereignty and is absolutely unacceptable”.
“Syrian warplanes Monday bombed northern Lebanon for the first time,” Nuland confirmed to reporters, denouncing the move as "a significant escalation" of the conflict.
She elaborated: "We can confirm... that regime jets and helicopters did fire rockets into northern Lebanon, impacting Wadi al-Khayl, near the border town of Arsal".
"This constitutes a significant escalation in the violations of Lebanese sovereignty that the Syrian regime has been guilty of. These kinds of violations of sovereignty are absolutely unacceptable".
She reminded Damascus that U.N. resolutions called for the strict respect of the sovereignty and territory of Lebanon.
Lebanon has publicly committed itself to staying neutral in the violence engulfing Syria, but the conflict has already exacerbated tensions and there are growing fears it could spill over into the country.
U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, Maura Connelly, has been in contact with the Lebanese government, Nuland added.
A high-ranking Lebanese army official told Agence France Presse four missiles had been fired by Syrian warplanes in a mountainous, desert area, which observers say is ideal for the smuggling of arms and the flow of fighters across the border.
Source: Agence France Presse
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