Syrian boat violates Lebanese waters

Lebanese security source told ‘Arabstoday’ that a Syrian boat kidnapped a Lebanese fishing boat from Lebanese territorial waters, off the northern town of Arida, taking it to Syria. A Syrian navy boat violated the northern Lebanese maritime borders, at around 7 am, by 4 miles, shot a fishing boat carrying Fady Hamad, 37, his brother Khaled Hamad, 33, and his nephew Maher Hamad, 17, leading the fishing boat to the Syrian waters, said the source. The source indicated that communications on leadership levels are conducted between the armies of both countries, to investigate the incident, where Syrian army leaders expressed their concern over smuggling of weapons carried out by the abducted fishermen. The Lebanese side denied the charges of the fishermen and demanded their release. News from Akkar reported that residents of Arida, on the Lebanese Syrian borders, blocked the international road linking Lebanon and Syria, protesting to the Syrian abduction of the three fishermen. Residents expressed their anger from the repetitive Syrian attacks on the borders. It is worth mentioning that Syrian violations of the Lebanese Syrian borders in Beqaa have notably increased, so far resulting in the killing of 13 Lebanese and Syrians and injuring more than 31 others.