Lebanese Army Opens Anti-Aircraft Fire after Syrian Airstrike

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

The Lebanese army opened anti-aircraft fire on Monday at Syrian warplanes that hovered the eastern border town of Arsal.

According to state-run National News Agency, the Syrian warplanes prompted the Lebanese army to respond after it raided Khirbet Daoud, which lies in the Eastern Mountain Range in an area adjacent to the barren mountains of the town of Arsal.

LBCI reported that Syrian warplanes hit the area with three rockets.

According to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3), six people were killed and 20 others injured after Syrian security forces thwarted an attempt to infiltrate from al-Qaa in Arsal into the Syrian border town of Jousiyeh.

It was the first time since the outbreak of the Syria's conflict three years ago that the Lebanese military took action to prevent Syrian warplanes from violating its airspace.

There was no immediate comment from the Lebanese military or from the Syrian government.

A meeting of Arsal officials later on Monday condemned the Syrian shelling, but praised the Lebanese army “for defending us and the Lebanese border.”

They hoped that its anti-aircraft fire would pave the way for the army to act as the sole defender of Lebanese land and sovereignty against any assaults.

They expressed their pride in the army and noted that its retaliation complements President Michel Suleiman's recent positions aimed at safeguarding Lebanon.

Arsal has a long shared border with Syria, stretching along much of Damascus province and part of Homs province.

Since the eruption of the neighboring country's war, Arsal has repeatedly been targeted with Syrian rockets.

Smugglers have long taken their goods across the porous border, and since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in March 2011, weapons and fighters have moved across the border too.

Comments 107
Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 12:46

Instead of firing against the airplanes, why not pursuit the targets they were firing at instead of protecting those takfiris? Bad call

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 12:48

The Army should focus more on stopping the Takfiris from going in and out of Syria, and stop the ones retreating back into Lebanese territory.

Thumb geha 30 December 2013, 12:51

I agree with mystic.

the army should finally stop the Iranian takfiri terrorists.

Thumb geha 30 December 2013, 12:52

and in case you need to know what your Iranian takfiri terrorists are causing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js7gG5btvk8#t=100

Thumb _mowaten_ 30 December 2013, 12:55

tell me geha, besides hate-mongering all day and making empty accusations, do you actually do something in life?

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 12:57

This act will mean, internal problems within the army. This is a very bad move for LAF to give, and i don't think the orders came from any generals.

Thumb geha 30 December 2013, 13:02

Actually now the army needs to take care:
- the Iranian terrorist militia is going to target the army again (accusing the takfiris as usual).

I think ft and mowaten have been assigned that job :)

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 13:04

no geha, this means the army will probaly be split between supporters of M8 & M14 if this is to be continued ofcourse. This will not gain any Lebanese at all, because if Syria was a to retaliate for real. That would be the end for our Army.

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 13:07

If the Lebanese Army Command really gave such on order to attack Syria, then i personally know many LAF soldiers that will take their arms and leave the Army. This is not a good thing for any of us.

Thumb geha 30 December 2013, 13:08

just out: the army command ordered this.

and just reading your comment: amazing!!!!!

so the army will split because its leadership decided finally to defend its borders?

really?????

unbelievable bunch of crap.

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 13:12

Nah geha, my intel tells me this was just warning shots.

Thumb geha 30 December 2013, 13:14

go check the ticker of the news on this site. :)
your intel means shit.

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 13:17

yeah i can see Al Mustaqbal talks alot about it lol.

Thumb cedre 30 December 2013, 13:28

Mystic and FT just showed us to whom they pledged allegiance.
Those syria agents support SAA against LAF protecting our sovereignty.

Thumb proudm14 30 December 2013, 13:40

@Mystic the traitor:

If the SAA enters here, it will be their grave! You traitorous rat!

Thumb proudm14 30 December 2013, 13:41

Damascus, Homs and Halab are burning and SAA rats are being liquidated every day, and still some cowards are afraid of making Baba Bashar mad at them! You make me sick!

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 13:45

@proudm14salafi, i don't know if you have followed news on the Syrian fronts lately, 7alab is being bombed, and the government is making gains all over northern Syria, Daraa, Dimasq, Qalamoun, Deir Zour, Homs is almost completely clean now. Read the news, western news also confirms this, the tide of war is now on the governments hands.

Thumb ice-man 30 December 2013, 14:02

@Mystical.... do you have any favorites for the Oscars?

Thumb makhaleh 30 December 2013, 16:29

The army did wat they are supposed to do protect lebanon the country they serve and live in if you dontlike then get out if you are here mystic probably ur fighting the war agains women and children the so called takfiris that are trying to live in a free syria not full of hatered and run by a dictator

Missing zakariah 30 December 2013, 20:26

By the same token, should also the Army allocate special roads and tracks for HA to go in and out of Syria as it wishes?

Shame on such thinking and such "selectivity".

Missing imagine_1979 30 December 2013, 12:50

Yes leave the friendly airplains bomb arsal, akar.. In fact those are not lebanese teritory, maybe some ksa land overthere...
Bravo mystic, plus one for u...

Missing imagine_1979 30 December 2013, 15:37

Well will be hard for them to be in dahiyeho or the cedars, u also find KKK in texas and mississipy but not a lot in brooklin.. Try to figure why

Thumb zahle1 30 December 2013, 19:18

We don't need FSA and Nusra in Lebanon. You can try to make it sound like FSA is moderate but they have been directly and indirectly supporting kidnapping and desecration of our clergy and churches. Again, the army should keep our villages safe regardless of their political views of that village. Its good to use anti-aircraft if Syria violates our airspace. We need to do the same to Israel and anyone else.

Missing imagine_1979 30 December 2013, 12:51

But does it mean a change in the army strategy, yesterday 3billions doll by ksa, today fiering on surian war planes.. Lets wait and se....

Missing coolmec 30 December 2013, 12:57

@imagine
Dude you should check your typos
minus 1 for you...LOL

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 12:53

lol geha, shame that i think, these shots weren't exactly aimed at the airplanes, more like a warning shots. Wouldn't do Lebanon any good to confront Syria now.

Thumb geha 30 December 2013, 13:04

oh yeah?

it only does Lebanon good when hizbushaitan decides to confront Israel?

what a bunch of stupid loosers.

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 13:09

Yep because Israel is the real enemy, not Syria.

Default-user-icon Legion (Guest) 30 December 2013, 13:12

What the hell are you talking about? The Syrian army hasn't been able to defeat a group of savages like Al-Nusra for the past 3 years and almost collapsed if it wasn't for Hezbollah's intervention. A conflict with the Lebanese Army would be a losing fight, especially if Hezbollah miraculously decides to defend its brothers instead of its masters.

Thumb geha 30 December 2013, 13:12

Syria has killed more Lebanese than Israel ever did.
then again, who am I to know?
it is only the Iranians that can decide who is Lebanon's enemies apparently?

Thumb FlameCatcher 30 December 2013, 13:14

@Mistake : Anyone who aggresses Lebanese, who attacks our sovereignty, who breaches our territory, who ignores our laws and constitution, is an enemy of Lebanon.

This means your dear Syria and Iran are as much enemies of Lebanon as Israel.

YOU ARE A TRAITOR for even defending Syrian warplanes breaching our airspace (whoever the target is and whatever the reason is).

If Syria has a problem with us, let them refer it to the Lebanese government.

Missing cedaris 30 December 2013, 13:17

Mystic, very nice of you to accept a foreign country violating our airspace, bombing our towns, etc.
God forbid our army decides to defend against such violations.
If there are terrorists, of whatever affiliation, it is up to lebanese authorities to deal with them inside our territories. If you think that Syria has a right to pursue them here, that same logic presumably OKs US drone strikes in pakistan, etc?
Protect yourself from your enemies, wherever they may lie?

Thumb FlameCatcher 30 December 2013, 13:22

@FT : I love it when your comments are EMPTY :)

Don't be jealous, you're a traitor too... my favorite traitor in fact.

Hugs and kisses idiot !

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 13:42

You should rather think about, you guys that said Assad would be falling 3 years ago? Now that is not right, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon Opens their borders for infinite takfiris from all over the world to go into Syria, so it is not very easy to crush an insect, when the next day there will be new ones spawning.

Thumb FlameCatcher 30 December 2013, 13:48

@FT : still empty ... you should change your name to "empty dumbty"...

@Mystic : Assad is falling ... it's a long fall for criminals such as Assad. The bigger the criminal, the longer the fall...

And about your "insect" theory, you cannot stop them from spawning. You create the environment for terrorists to endocrinate new recruits and hate your guts. The same tacticts you use to recruit new terrorists and send them to their deaths in Syria.

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 13:52

@Fartie We both know, that even US & Russia are negotiating a transitional government in Syria, which Assad will be included. The only one that is still pouring petrol on the fire, is the furious Saudi that has spend billions of dollars on this war, and now is losing. You have said for 3 years every month, Assad is falling. It will not happend. Especially not now, you had your chance, you lost.

Thumb FlameCatcher 30 December 2013, 14:10

@Mystic : petrol on fire = Hezbollah intervening in Syria against the wish of the Lebanese people and bringing war to Lebanon.

If Bashar is winning this war, he wouldn't need Hezbollah to protect him. And if Bashar was "Friendly" to Lebanon, he would protect our borders.

Fact is, he is not, he's going down and will bring Lebanon down with him !!!

Ba3den I have never said Assad is falling. He never "rised" to fall. He's not even in control in Syria... He basically commited his regime's suicide the moment he decided to commission Hezbollah to murder his opponents in Lebanon. He will pay for this dearly.

He's an illegitimate president and an enemy to the Lebanese people guilty of war crimes in Lebanon and crimes against humanity. Do you deny he and his father butchered Lebanese ? Do you deny their "allies" in Lebanon also butchered Lebanese including AMNESIAC AOUNIES ?

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 14:26

@Fartie i can clearly see, you are becoming hot headed, maybe you should go out and enjoy the beautiful weather, get some fresh air.

Hezb intervened, long after the Al Qaeda that came from the beginning of the fighting. They did it not only for Syria, but also for Lebanon.

The takfiris would not have stopped if they toppled Assad, it would've continued into Lebanon, whether they intervened or not.

Btw if you do not believe me that the government is winning, i dare you to go and watch the news.

If Al Arabiya and Al Jazeera is whining about bombing, you will know what i mean. You can also go watch some western news aswell.

Thumb FlameCatcher 30 December 2013, 14:46

@Mystic : Unlike you, i don't measure victory by the number of people you kill. I measure victory by the number of people who love and would die for Assad. If you base your "reports" on Al-Manar, Al-Jazeera or whatever arab channel, you will get false information about who is truly winning.

If you are Lebanese, please answer my previous question :

Can you deny Assad's crimes in Lebanon ? Can you deny the massacres committed in Lebanon prior to their pullout ?

Can you deny the corruption and theft of our country by the Assad regime ?

Can you deny that the Assad regime was helped by filthy politicians which constitute most of M8 and some M14 elements today ?

NO ! You simply siding with Assad makes you a traitor !

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 14:48

@Fartie By the way, what makes you think that Hezbollah have so many fighters in Syria? They only got about less than a quarter of their strength overthere, most of them are there to train and advise pro government resistance militias, how to fight Urban/conventional guerilla warfare.

Thumb FlameCatcher 30 December 2013, 15:30

@Mistake :

1- if they have 1 or 1 million fighters, it makes no difference
2- What makes you think they are there to advise ? you know nothing more than what Nasrallah says and we all know most of his statements are lies
3- You still havent' answered my question.

I take it you cannot deny Assad commited all these crimes. This means you are helping a criminal and are a traitor to Lebanon too ...

Missing greatpierro 30 December 2013, 13:10

Do you realize that Syrian warplanes are violating lebanese air space and firing rockets on its territory.

Thumb cedre 30 December 2013, 13:29

they do and choose deliberately Bashar's side.

Missing helicopter 30 December 2013, 16:18

The army should stop all Takfirtis be they Iranians or Saudis. Those that use the official crossing at Msnaa3,underground tunnels where large rockets are moved through daily, or the porous border in Arsal and Akkar.
Grow some Lebanese Patriotism and you will find the action of the army not only appropriate but also insufficient.

Thumb scorpyonn 30 December 2013, 20:04

You stupid Iranian lapdog

Thumb Maxx 30 December 2013, 20:19

Instead of polluting Lebanon with your filthy presence, why not go back to Syria? Awsakh nès.

Thumb cedre 30 December 2013, 23:28

u right, I heard Kahwaji gonna grow a beard and convert soon.

Missing peace 30 December 2013, 12:49

about time the army defend the sovereignty of lebanon against FOREIGN warplanes bombing the country....

Thumb geha 30 December 2013, 12:50

WAW!
the army must be happy after hearing about the KSA and UAE grants :)

finally they are doing what they should have been doing for such a long time.

maybe the next step will be the arrest of ali eid and his son rifaat?

then maybe the army will arrest anyone that has weapons outside the state?

Thumb cedars2 30 December 2013, 12:50

God bless the LAF its a shame they didn't send them down burning...

Thumb primesuspect 30 December 2013, 12:54

beautiful headlines. the LAF's moral has been boosted by KSA/UAE/Sleiman/Hariri. they grew up cojones overnight. beautiful! take down syrian/israeli airplanes !!!!

Thumb proudm14 30 December 2013, 12:56

i teared up a bit after reading the headline of this article

takbir!!!

praise Jesus!!

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 12:58

Takbir? Jesus? Those two words doesn't mix, are you a proudsalafi?

Thumb primesuspect 30 December 2013, 13:01

cum sok on my hairy cojones u sik fok.

Thumb geha 30 December 2013, 13:05

Actually all types of prayers mix together :)

Thumb falanges 31 December 2013, 01:56

shut up syrian dog. oh and btw its time for war lets meet up. where are you?

Thumb -phoenix1 30 December 2013, 13:20

FT, didn't you say dear brother what we all have been saying? That we want a strong LAF, a strong state with strong institutions under a strong constitution? Well, today things are being done differently, the state of Lebanon and its army are doing exactly what we've been shouting for, for years now, let us today leave our LAF to do its work as normally should be the case. Justice is dispensed when it is dispensed impartially, to anyone breaking the law, and that includes the Syrians and their regime and their rebels.

Thumb ice-man 30 December 2013, 14:06

Allah Yihmeek Ya Flamethrower. Always saying the right things....! Will you be spending New Year's in Dahiyeh or in Saksakiyeh?

Thumb -phoenix1 30 December 2013, 14:41

Of course not dear brother FT, I never said anything about yourself contradicting yourself, in fact I was underlining your repeated positions about your preferring a strong Lebanese state above everything. Trust me brother, we are on agreement over this one.

Thumb Chupachups 30 December 2013, 13:22

wow, can't believe what i'm reading :)

Missing coolmec 30 December 2013, 13:28

geha
I just saw Mohammad Chaar video (your link).Very emotional and moving video. I have tears in my eyes.
May he RIP

Thumb geha 30 December 2013, 13:41

I wish the stupid m8 guys to take a look and see who are the targets of hizbushaitan.

Missing coolmec 30 December 2013, 14:23

Better yet ya Geha
I wish ALL people be it M8 or M14 view this video and realize what extremism can do. How it hurts the innocents. This kid among others is the new blood and the future of our country, yet lives are being killed wasted away
Poor Lebanon

Thumb cedre 30 December 2013, 13:33

ft still trying to implement selective dissociation policy on sunni individuals when a Lebanese party with MPs is waging war in Syria.
Keep protecting Bashar and betray the syrian people...

Thumb cedre 30 December 2013, 14:11

what about HA cutie ? U forgot Qusayr ? We wont...
Bashar needs more lebanon's fighters and suppy line than the rebels.

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 14:31

Good, don't forget Qusayr cedre. You should remember it as a lesson for all takfiris.

Missing imagine_1979 30 December 2013, 15:49

Is this a threat mystic? U know after 13 political assassinations, assassination attempts, black shirts, 7 ayyar, tripoli bombs, smaha/mamlouk.... Well nothing much there left to make us scared...

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 16:03

@imagine,so you refer to yourself as a takfiri now. Good to know

Missing imagine_1979 30 December 2013, 16:38

U referto all that are not with al moumana3a (syrian iran axis so go see what mumana3a) as takfiri... So if it pleases u why not... So u don't get confused...
That was some intersting post, thank u mystic, plus one for u, bravo...doing good today..

Thumb Mystic 30 December 2013, 16:49

I'm glad to have offended you Imagine.

Missing imagine_1979 30 December 2013, 17:46

No it is fine, don't debate is a very good way to share different point of view..
Plus one for u bro, don't be sad...

Thumb ice-man 30 December 2013, 14:08

I think Flamethrower and mowaten will take offense to your screen name.

Thumb saturn 30 December 2013, 14:19

How sad. The only thing posters do here is call each other names and numbers. Fourteen You! Eight my disk! Motherfourteener?!

OK I couldn't come up with something awesome containing "eight", ideas anyone? :)

Thumb Chupachups 30 December 2013, 14:51

Eight, plz don't master....

Missing whateverarseholes 30 December 2013, 14:21

the lebanese forces need to fire the AA guns on sunni takfiris like the terrorists did to execute that innocent civilian once!

Thumb saturn 30 December 2013, 14:26

Behave! You meant to say "Lebanese Armed Forces", because "Lebanese Forces" wouldn't do such a thing.

Missing sanctify 30 December 2013, 14:31

Funny, as if we are saying "see, we are doing the right thing, so please give us those $3 billion"!

Not even $10 billion will make the army. Firing at Syrian or Israeli aircraft is a joke. We have lost total sovereignty over our country.
I hope all Lebanese come back to their senses.

Thumb Chupachups 30 December 2013, 14:34

explain how it's a joke.

Thumb saturn 30 December 2013, 14:40

Maybe for some the extremists are long-term strategic allies. That's why they spit only in one direction.

Missing youssefhaddad 30 December 2013, 14:55

One would think that the Lebanese have learned already!
One would think that they are educated and sophisticated enough for falling into a 14 centuries old conflict!
It is hopeless.

Missing nuetral 30 December 2013, 14:58

Bravo for the Lebanese Army showing some balls at last.

Missing watan-libnan 30 December 2013, 15:04

Great that the army did this i hope they do the same to izraeli planes and hit them.

Thumb ice-man 30 December 2013, 15:16

Wow Southern.... for just saying *must be put, you got 5 votes up?! You are so popular.

Thumb LEBhasNOhope 30 December 2013, 16:00

Proud of our troops. Keep it up boys and may God be with you!

Missing peace 30 December 2013, 16:10

funny FT ... the hypocrit FPMer that finds excuses for the army not to shoot back when akkar is shelled by syria but here to give a good hypocrit image of himself acknowledges the army...

typical FPM ...

Missing imagine_1979 30 December 2013, 16:40

True....

Default-user-icon shooting in the sky (Guest) 30 December 2013, 16:52

a sad public relations attempt by the army that is a lie for anyone who understands the lebanese army that takes it orders from hezbolah.

Thumb saturn 30 December 2013, 17:01

Do you also see a diversion in the Mufti incident and the $3 Billion?

Missing imagine_1979 30 December 2013, 17:59

Not really but the mufti knew what to expect and still went there...
Anw he didnot get shot like selman if front of iranian embassy, just some shoe throwing and some bad langage....
March 14 are really takfiri....

Thumb beiruti 30 December 2013, 17:29

I find this a significant news item. Yesterday was the report that KSA would fund a $3.0 billion dollar upgrade of Lebanese Army equipment to be purchased from French arms builders. Sulieman said that he would approve a neutral cabinet and now this. All three actions are not what Hezbollah would have ordered up, but here it is.
The KSA/French deal is an acceptance of the reality that the US is no longer considered a proper foreign patron for the Lebanese. They provide neither the funds nor the equipment to properly outfit the LAF to deal with what is coming. KSA has had it with Obama and the French are glad to step in and let their arms exporters fill the gap of US Arms Exporters.

Thumb beiruti 30 December 2013, 17:31

If there was ever a cause and ever a time to take on Hezbollah, the cause presents itself and the time is now.
The Cause is to get a government seated and approved by Parliament prior to the expiration of Sulieman's mandate and to conduct presidential elections on time. A void in all offices of the Lebanese government would send the country back 25 years to the days of Aoun/Hoss, the duality in the Ministries of Government and real power with the militias.

Thumb beiruti 30 December 2013, 17:34

The time is now because most of Hezbollah's best fighters are away in Syria propping up the Assad Regime. If they come back to Lebanon to militarily confront the LAF over political decision making not to Hezbollah's liking, then this is a blow to the Assad Regime in Syria if they come back to Lebanon, and a political blow to Hezbollah if they do not.
I believe such a "Hail Mary" play is in the works. And KSA would not lose sleep over dealing its regional adversary Iran a blow by knocking out Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Thumb beiruti 30 December 2013, 17:35

In fact, the US could have blessed the whole thing. Kerry talks peace, peace in Geneva while KSA and France with the Lebanese declaw Iran in the region by trimming Hezbollah's wings.

Missing helicopter 30 December 2013, 17:44

I like your analysis beiruti.
One word of caution though, Lebanon should do the right things (such as building up the LAF) simply because it is the right thing to do. If HA stands in the way, then the LAF are more able to deal with them. The ultimate goal is disarming all parties (starting with the Palestinians and non-Lebanese).

Thumb beiruti 30 December 2013, 17:55

Yes, yes, of course, all standing armies on Lebanese soil, other than the LAF and ISF must be disarmed as affronts to the sovereignty of the country. Hezbollah, Palestinian, all preferably, all simultaneously.

Missing imagine_1979 30 December 2013, 20:04

C l'intenssion qui compte....
Chupachups bigjohn?...

Thumb scorpyonn 30 December 2013, 20:10

Too bad Obama is weak. If Bush were in the White House Cheney would literally have neutralized Iran by now.

Thumb falanges 31 December 2013, 03:14

are you stupid???? do you think the US isnt pulling oil out of iraq and getting there money back and more? that is why you will always work at a gas station for minimum wage selling cigarettes to underage teens in dearborn

Thumb falanges 31 December 2013, 05:35

they own the oil there fool. get educated

Thumb falanges 31 December 2013, 02:09

southern bitch. go back to iran

Thumb falanges 31 December 2013, 02:11

he is not Lebanese

Missing helicopter 31 December 2013, 02:21

I just can not understand why you are allowed to hold on to your Lebanese citizenship. There is nothing Lebanese about your ideology, you are a better fit in Syria ..... please move where your heart is.

Missing VINCENT 31 December 2013, 03:15

Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country. Long live the LAF. Get it through your thick heads, religion, has broken you and our Watan to pieces. This deeply rooted hatred amongst the Islamic religion has nested in Lebanese politics and Parliament with deadly consequences. When are you going to learn to keep this dispute outside our boarders?

Thumb falanges 31 December 2013, 03:19

dont waste your time talking to the dirty filthy mystic who is hiding from getting his ass whipped. hey mystic im still waiting for you.. lets meet up bring your syrians i got something special for you and your boys. Hez is so weak right now its the supporters are in panic mode. they are still pushing that they have so many guys, weapons, whatever. iran in bankrupt and hezbollah is getting weaker by the minute. go f yourself all you traitors writing comments

Thumb scorpyonn 31 December 2013, 07:29

Hallelujah! I will celebrate with you Falanges!

Thumb LEBhasNOhope 31 December 2013, 04:05

I like your style. Even though you are going to get banned. At least you are going out in style :)

Thumb LEBhasNOhope 31 December 2013, 06:04

Big john. I hate to burst your bubble but your opinion and/or approval has no meaning to me. Have a good night