Syria Threatens to Bomb 'Terrorist Gangs' inside Lebanon in Letter of Protest
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Syria on Thursday warned that its forces would fire into Lebanon if "terrorist gangs" continued to infiltrate the country, in a letter of protest to Lebanon.
"These past 36 hours, armed terrorist gangs have infiltrated Syrian territory in large numbers from Lebanon," the Syrian foreign ministry said in the letter carried by Syria's news agency SANA.
"Syrian forces have confronted these gangs and clashes are continuing," the ministry added.
"Syrian forces are showing restraint by not striking these gangs inside Lebanese territory to prevent them from crossing into Syria, but this will not go on indefinitely," it said, urging Lebanon to take action.
Earlier on Thursday, Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali announced that Syria had submitted the letter of protest to Lebanese authorities, complaining against “violations of the neighboring country's territory on the border”.
"Armed men have been sneaking into (the Syrian town of) Tall Kalakh and the region has witnessed several violations in the last couple of days,” Ali explained in an interview with al-Mayadeen television.
He noted: “Syria is still exercising self-control towards violations coming from Lebanese territory”.
The Syrian diplomat said the Lebanese Deputy Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry Charbel Wehbe expressed his “empathy with the note”, promising to deliver it to President Michel Suleiman and relevant authorities.
"We hope the Lebanese army will respond to these acts that threaten security in both countries,” Ali added.
The Syrian foreign ministry had submitted to Lebanese authorities on July 25, 2012 a complaint against what it called “violations on the border.”
Since the eruption of Syria's clashes in 2011, Lebanon's northern areas have been witnessing several security incidents, the latest of which was in October 2012, when heavy Syrian gunfire targeted the border town of al-Abboudiyeh, forcing residents to flee the area en masse.
Later on Thursday, the U.N. Security Council expressed "grave concern" over cross-border attacks between Syria and Lebanon in a rare united declaration on the Syrian conflict.
Council members "underscored their grave concern over repeated incidents of cross-border fire which caused death and injury among the Lebanese population, incursions, abductions and arms trafficking across the Lebanese-Syrian border, as well as other border violations."
The Security Council "underlined the importance of full respect for Lebanon's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity."
It also expressed "deep concern at the impact of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon's stability."
14 March 2013, 22:45
18
So who is shocked by his comments--almost mirrors their, I mean our foreign minister
Anyhow, I still think we should move him from Hamra to one of the border towns to see what he thinks of the shelling in the first person.
15 March 2013, 03:56
13
Why are we so divided between Pro-regime and Pro-rebels. All we have to be is Pro-Lebanon and all will be well for us Lebanese. Lets remove the bridge from our own eye before we criticize the strawe in someone else's eye.
15 March 2013, 03:58
07
These past 36 hours, armed terrorist gangs have infiltrated Syrian territory in large numbers from Lebanon........... Don't they wish now that the borders were well demarcated and fenced with army presence patrolling all of it? Late is better than never, I think we should do that now, maybe the Syrian regime will be support it now (while they would have never allow it in the past). Make hay while the sun shines. Hit the steel while it is hot.
15 March 2013, 05:22
16
the Syrian regime wants the borders to be the way they are to justify their actions.
they said it: if they go down, Lebanon, turkey and Jordan will go down. this is why they try desperately to create strife in Lebanon (remember samaha).
they are just preparing for something.....
15 March 2013, 05:18
16
it is comment like this that create strife.
racism and bigotry to the extreme! keep it up josh: reveal your true self...... but do not ask why sunnis are becoming radical by the day: it is due to comments such as yours.
15 March 2013, 05:19
27
it is comment like this that create strife.
racism and bigotry to the extreme! keep it up josh: reveal your true self...... but do not ask why sunnis are becoming radical by the day: it is due to comments such as yours.
15 March 2013, 06:08
51
for a long time, i would have been against this, but now i am not sure. i kinda support the syrian arab army over these rebels, anywhere and anyplace. they don't belong in lebanon. give them a warning to go fight jihad in syria or face cluster bombs.
15 March 2013, 15:36
01
i guess those collaborators from M8 agree with the bombing of lebanon by a foreign army....
15 March 2013, 16:03
11
you must have been born anally because being an a$$ comes very naturally to you. No self respecting patriot would ever accept any occupation. Just because you have no self respect dosen't mean the rest of us have to be like you. We will never allow ourselves to be occupied ever again!
15 March 2013, 16:07
12
where is ashraf el nass to protect lebanon witht their weapons? oh wait- those weapons only explode in israel. they will not work if any other invaders comes knocking.
16 March 2013, 14:14
00
I was born Muslim, I had the chance to be educated in Christian schools as many Muslim Lebanese, we grew up as Lebanese not as Muslim nor as Christian, being a grown up men I read some of you D... H... people who still insult each other religion thinking that will prove you right makes me thanks god (my God) not the one you all fight under his name that I left Lebanon.
from the bottom of my heart I wish an earthquake will destroy it to rubble. so we stop hearing about stupid people fighting each other for some politician who treat you people like sheep.
