Cautious calm on Lebanon-Syria border, as HTS prepares for withdrawal
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The Lebanese Army and Red Cross have received the bodies of two kidnapped youths executed amid heightened tensions along the Lebanese-Syrian border.
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militants affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense gather on the Syrian side of the village of Hawsh al-Sayyed Ali, near the Lebanese-Syrian border, on March 17, 2025. (AP)
The Lebanese Army and the Red Cross received the bodies of two young men from the Mdalij family at the General Security checkpoint on the Jousi-Qaa' border area, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported. The two Lebanese nationals were abducted, transported across the border into Syria, and tragically executed by their captors.
Amid the transfer of the bodies, a cautious calm has prevailed along the Lebanese-Syrian border, despite sporadic gunfire, following a ceasefire brokered between the defense ministers of both countries.
Several violations were recorded by fighters affiliated with the Syrian Defense Ministry, who opened fire on multiple border areas, including al-Mashrifa, Hawsh al-Sayyed Ali, and Jantaliya. The Lebanese Army responded proportionally, striking the sources of fire with calculated precision to mitigate further escalation.
Furthermore, Syrian forces are expected to complete their withdrawal from the Lebanese side of the Hawsh al-Sayyed Ali town by Wednesday noon
According to a statement released by the Lebanese Defense Ministry, National Defense Minister Major General Michel Menassa called his Syrian counterpart, Marhaf Abu Qasra, to discuss developments on the Lebanese-Syrian border.
The statement detailed how an agreement was reached between both sides with "continued communication between the Lebanese Army Intelligence Directorate and Syrian Intelligence to prevent the deterioration of the situation on the border between the two countries and avoid the loss of innocent civilian lives."
On Monday, seven people were killed and 36 others were wounded after Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched an attack on the Lebanese border town of Hawsh al-Sayyed Ali in the Hermel District, Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, an Al Mayadeen correspondent reported.
The Lebanese Army responded by launching an airstrike on artillery positions that targeted civilians in the area. The army confirmed in a statement that specialized units were deployed to Hermel after several Lebanese military positions were attacked from within Syrian territory.
Meanwhile, Syrian media reported that at least five militants were killed in Tuesday's clashes along the Syrian-Lebanese border.
Read more: HTS militants occupying 5km of eastern Lebanese town: Local mayor
