One of them stoned to death, Three Syrian soldiers killed in Hezbollah ambush

Three members of the Syrian Ministry of Defense were killed on Sunday after being ambushed by Hezbollah loyalists near the border with Lebanon.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted the Ministry of Defense's media office as saying, "A group from the Hezbollah militia ambushed and kidnapped three members of the Syrian Arab Army on the Syrian-Lebanese border near the Zeita Dam, west of Homs, before taking them to Lebanese territory and executing them on the spot."

The office added, "The Ministry of Defense will take all necessary measures after this dangerous escalation by the Hezbollah militia."

For its part, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that "three members of the Ali bin Abi Talib Brigade, affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense, were killed in an ambush by gunmen believed to be members of smuggling gangs affiliated with the Lebanese Hezbollah."

The Observatory added that the incident occurred "within Lebanese territory near the dam road opposite the village of al-Qasr, on the border with Lebanon. The bodies were transported for delivery to the Syrian authorities. Lebanese army forces were also deployed along the border with Syria."

According to sources affiliated with the Observatory, "a quarrel broke out between members of Lebanese tribes and members of the Ali bin Abi Talib Brigade, which ended with the stabbing of one of the tribesmen. The brigade members were then lured into Lebanese territory and all killed, including one who was stoned to death, according to a video obtained by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights."

The border areas with Lebanon are witnessing widespread smuggling activity, particularly in the areas near the town of Arsal, in the Lebanese Bekaa Valley, adjacent to the Syrian border.

The border lacks any checkpoints or security personnel, which allows for various smuggling operations in the region. These operations include the theft and sale of heavy equipment belonging to the former government, which is used for scrap, as well as the dismantling of factories, tanks, and military vehicles in Lebanon, according to the Observatory.

Meanwhile, weapons are smuggled from warehouses in Qalamoun and sold in Arsal and other Lebanese regions, along with operations targeting the theft and sale of materials such as copper telephone and electricity cables in Lebanon.

Sky News Arabia