Naharnet

Syrian Helicopters Bomb Lebanese Villages Triggering Fire at Kawashira Poultry Farm

Syrian military helicopters fired five missiles on Wednesday evening on the Lebanese region of al-Ajram near the Bekaa's border town of Arsal, the state-run National News Agency said.

LBCI television elaborated: “Syrian helicopters bombed the areas of Wadi Hmeid and al-Ajram near Arsal inside Lebanese territory."

The same source also reported that shells fired from the Syrian side of the border have landed in Akkar's Dababiyeh and al-Kawashira regions, causing material damage in a poultry farm.

"Flames have engulfed a poultry farm after shells landed in Kawashira," the NNA detailed.

It noted: “The Dababiyeh town is target of heavy shelling coming from the Syrian side of the border."

The two-year long violence in Syria has increasingly spilled over into Lebanon, with cross-border shelling in the north and east.

Earlier in April, Syrian warplanes had pounded a house on the outskirts of the eastern town of Arsal.

In March, President Michel Suleiman denounced the Syrian airstrikes in Lebanese territories but Damascus, in its first comments on the attacks, denied it was involved.

The region of Arsal has been said to be used for the smuggling of arms and the flow of fighters across the border.

Arsal is a majority Sunni town, many of whose residents support the revolt against President Bashar Assad in neighboring Syria.

The area lies on the border with Syria, and has become home to thousands of people fleeing their the conflict.

Scores of Syrians injured in the violence have been brought into Arsal for medical treatment in recent months, and there have been reports of fighters and arms being smuggled in.

Syrian authorities had threatened to attack Lebanese territories if “terrorists” continue to infiltrate the country from Lebanon.

Lebanese parties are sharply divided over the developments in Syria despite the dissociation policy that was adopted by the state.


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