Khoury Says Poor Border Demarcation Reason behind Syrian Incursions
Head of the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council Nasri Khoury attributed the Syrian incursions into Lebanon to the lack of clear demarcated borders between the two countries.
“The land between Lebanon and Syria in al-Qaa and the northern border are poorly demarcated,” Khoury said in an interview with al-Liwaa newspaper on Thursday.
He pointed out that many Lebanese citizens own land in Syria and vice-versa.
Lebanon and Syria share a 330-kilometer border but have yet to agree on official demarcation.
Khoury said that the Lebanese army is the only authority that can say if the Syrian forces are infiltrating Lebanese territories or not.
Concerning the smuggling of weapons into Syria, he noted that it has been ongoing for a very long time as controlling the border isn’t “an easy task.”
The Syrian regime has repeatedly said that weapons are being smuggled from Lebanon to arm the rebel Free Syrian Army.
Asked about the reports saying that Syrian troops have recently crossed into Lebanese territories and planted mines, Khoury denied that he received any official report regarding the incident.
Syrian troops have carried out a number of cross-border raids into Lebanon since the outbreak of the revolt against the regime of President Bashar Assad, sparking fears of a spillover of the conflict.
Khoury pointed out that the situation of the Syrian refugees in Lebanese border towns is a humanitarian issue that should be handled through the ambassadors of the two countries and not through the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council.
According to U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, the number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon rose to 28,000 but only 20,000 of them are receiving humanitarian assistance throughout the country.
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