4 Lebanese Dead, 10 Hurt in Shelling on Syrian Border Town

Four Lebanese nationals were killed and 10 others wounded in shelling by regime forces on the Syrian border town of Jousiyeh on Wednesday, media reports said.

“Four people who hail from Arsal were killed and 10 others wounded in the town of Jousiyeh on the Syrian side of the border,” the Beirut-based, pan-Arab television al-Mayadeen reported.

The pro-Syria, Hizbullah-affiliated al-Manar television said “Syrian warplanes hit the headquarters of the gunmen in the Syrian town of Jousiyeh, which left four Lebanese who hail from Arsal dead and 10 others wounded.”

The two TV networks did not say if the alleged Lebanese nationals were fighters or civilians.

But Agence France Presse quoted a Lebanese security source as saying that four Lebanese villagers died in an airstrike while fighting alongside the rebels.

Syrian forces have staged several incursions into Arsal since the beginning of the popular revolt in Syria in March 2011. Several Arsal residents were also killed by cross-border shelling.

Arsal residents deny fighting alongside the rebel Free Syrian Army and have been calling on the Lebanese army to deploy on the border with Syria.

Clashes broke out in June between Syrian troops and Arsal residents after a Lebanese man was killed and two wounded on the Lebanese-Syrian border.

Rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons were fired during the clashes at Kherbet Daoud, an area on the outskirts of Arsal.

The fighting broke out after Syrian security forces intercepted smugglers crossing into Syria. However, there was no information as to what they were smuggling.