Lebanon's Defence Minister Michel Menassa and his Syrian counterpart Murhaf Abu Qasra have reached an agreement on a ceasefire following two days of intense cross-border clashes that resulted in ten fatalities, officials from both countries confirmed on Monday.
According to statements from the Lebanese and Syrian defence ministries, three soldiers from Syria’s newly formed army and seven Lebanese nationals were killed in the fighting. The Lebanese health ministry reported that 52 people sustained injuries.
As part of the agreement, both sides will maintain communication between their army intelligence directorates to prevent further escalation along the border, a region that has become increasingly volatile since Islamist rebels ousted former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad three months ago. The fall of Assad, a key ally of Tehran and Hezbollah, has led to ongoing tensions in the region.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Raji met with his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shibani in Brussels to discuss the situation. Both officials agreed to maintain diplomatic dialogue regarding the crisis, as reported by Lebanon’s state news agency, NNA.
The conflict intensified after Syria’s defence ministry accused Hezbollah of crossing into its territory and kidnapping three of its soldiers, who were later found dead. Hezbollah has denied any involvement. A Lebanese security source stated that the Syrian soldiers had initially entered Lebanese territory, where they were killed by armed tribesmen fearing an attack on their town in northeastern Lebanon.
In retaliation, Syrian forces shelled Lebanese border towns overnight. The Lebanese army responded by engaging with fire from Syrian territory and deployed reinforcements to stabilize the region. The Lebanese military also confirmed that the bodies of the three Syrian soldiers were handed over to Syrian authorities.
On Monday, Syria reinforced its border positions, deploying troops and tanks along the frontier. A Reuters correspondent reported that Syrian troops fired into the air as they moved through several towns on their way to the border.
"Large military reinforcements were brought in to strengthen positions along the Syrian-Lebanese border and prevent further breaches," stated Maher Ziwani, a senior Syrian army officer overseeing the deployment.
Tensions remain high in the border region, with residents of Al-Qasr, a town near the frontier, fleeing further inland to escape the ongoing conflict. The ceasefire agreement aims to curb further violence, though stability in the area remains uncertain.