The Lebanese-Syrian border flared up once again, with deadly clashes erupting around the village of Al-Qasr over the past two days, leaving several people dead and two young Lebanese men executed. Cross-border shelling eventually ended with a bilateral ceasefire agreement between the two countries.

This is not the first time tensions have ignited along the 375-kilometer border, notorious for its numerous illegal crossings often used for smuggling operations.

Conflicting Accounts

Multiple narratives have emerged regarding the causes of the clashes and those responsible. Syria’s Ministry of Defense accused Hezbollah fighters of infiltrating the western Homs region inside Syrian territory and kidnapping three Syrian soldiers. Meanwhile, official sources told Al Arabiya and Al Hadath that gunfire from the Lebanese side originated from the Lebanese Army, targeting Syrian security forces.

Tribes or Smugglers?

The same official sources suggested that the clashes may have initially erupted between tribes or smugglers from both sides of the border before the Lebanese Army intervened.

Additionally, the sources confirmed that Syrian forces killed two Lebanese brothers after abducting them from within Lebanese territory.

The sources further indicated that Hezbollah and the Bekaa tribes were closely monitoring the border developments, with the Lebanese Army taking the lead in managing the situation.

Army Reinforcements

Security sources told Al Arabiya and Al Hadath that the Lebanese Army reinforced its presence along the eastern border with Syria, specifically in northern and eastern Hermel, deploying additional troops and vehicles to prevent a recurrence of the violence.

They clarified that the incident was not a cross-border infiltration into Syria but rather a clash between Syrian forces and residents of the border area. The sources added that, so far, it remains unclear who opened fire from the Lebanese side, asserting that Hezbollah had no involvement.

This account aligns with a statement made by Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos, who claimed that the three individuals killed were smugglers, not Syrian army personnel. He also noted that the shelling first started from the Syrian side, not the Lebanese one.

"Check Your Facts"

However, Colonel Abdul Moneim Daher, commander of the Syrian Army’s 52nd Division’s First Brigade, told Al Arabiya that the individuals killed in Lebanon were indeed Syrian soldiers from the 52nd Battalion.

Addressing the Lebanese Information Minister, Daher stated, "Check your facts."

Daher emphasized that there was high-level coordination with the Lebanese Army, clarifying that "there is no issue between us, but we are being targeted by advanced weaponry from groups supported by Hezbollah."

"Our operations are against Hezbollah, not the Lebanese Army, and we have no intention of entering Lebanese villages," Daher added.