Syrian army crosses Lebanese border twice in 24 hours

An ambulance transports the Lebanese wounded who were attacked on the Syrian border Beirut – Georges Chahine Lebanese military sources have expressed anxiety to Arabstoday about the recent Syrian military operations in Lebanon. The Syrian army has crossed into Lebanon twice in less than 24 hours, for the first time since the uprising in Syria began. Last night, Syrian forces fired shots across the border near the towns of Hnayder and Kenayseh, injuring one man and damaging homes. Another source suggested that three civilians were injured, one of them Ahmed Zeidan Ahmed who was transferred to hospital by a Red Cross ambulance.
Lebanese military equipment was thought to be severely damaged in the raid. Earlier in the day, 15 Syrian soldiers crossed the border in pursuit of Syrians fleeing from the same area. When a Lebanese army unit arrived to investigate the incident, Syrian forces fired rounds at the unit in an alleged case of mistaken identity.
Lebanese military sources told Arabstoday that military discussions were being held between the Lebanese and Syrian armies to prevent the incidents from reoccurring. Lebanese sources are concerned as the incidents came just three days after the Lebanese Minister of Defence, Fayez Ghosn, visited President Assad and the Syrian Minister of Defence, Daoud Rajha.
In the meeting, Assad had praised the steps taken by the Lebanese army in preventing weapons smuggling across the border.
Overnight, two patrol cars from the internal security forces were also ambushed in the Beqaa valley at by armed men. The men opened fire on the cars, severely injuring two patrolmen, Joseph Al Ashqar and Elias Nasrallah.
 Medical sources said that the two injured patrolmen were transferred to Bekaa hospital. Al Ashqar was shot in his arm and leg, and left the hospital an hour later, while Nasrallah was shot in the head, chest and stomach and underwent several surgeries. His condition is currently stable.
The Lebanese army has undertaken an intensive search of the area, and remains on high alert.
The car that carried out the attack was chased along a road close to the international Damascus highway, but was found burnt out near a landfill at lunchtime today.
Initial investigations revealed that the attackers’ car was stolen hours before the attacks from a woman in Joub Jannine, who was threatened by the attackers.