Lebanon’s president says security tensions on border with Syria ‘cannot continue’

By Wassim Seifeddine and Rania Abu Shamala

BEIRUT /ISTANBUL (AA) – Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that the ongoing security tensions along the border between Lebanon and Syria “cannot continue."

Speaking during a phone call with Foreign Minister Youssef Raji, Aoun said that he has ordered the Lebanese army to respond to "the sources of fire," according to a presidency statement.

"What is happening on the eastern and northeastern borders cannot continue, and we will not accept its continuation. I have given my directives to the Lebanese army to respond to the sources of fire," Aoun said.

Aoun said he instructed his foreign minister to engage with the Syrian delegation participating in a donor conference in Brussels “to swiftly resolve the ongoing issue in a manner that ensures the sovereignty of both nations and prevents further deterioration of the situation."

On Sunday, Syrian authorities accused Hezbollah of kidnapping and killing three soldiers, an accusation denied by the Lebanese group.

A Lebanese military statement said the bodies of the three soldiers had been handed over to Damascus, adding that it was in contact with Syrian authorities to maintain security along the border.

According to the army, Lebanese border villages came under artillery shelling from the Syrian side, prompting the Lebanese military to respond to the fire.

The Lebanon-Syria border, spanning 375 kilometers (233 miles), features rugged terrain with no clear demarcation in many areas. While six official border crossings exist, the region remains porous, with frequent activity at unauthorized routes.

Hezbollah had maintained strong ties with the ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad, who ruled from 2000 to 2024.

Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on Dec. 8, 2024, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963.