Syria and Lebanon agree on ceasefire along their shared border
Military forces agree to ceasefire at the border between the countries (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Representatives of the defense ministries of Lebanon and Syria have reached an agreement to cease fire. The parties are trying to stop the clashes along their shared border, which have been ongoing for two days, according to The Times of Israel.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense stated that the agreement also includes strengthening coordination and cooperation between the two parties.
Earlier on Monday, March 17, Lebanese President Michel Aoun ordered the military to strike in response to gunfire originating from the Syrian side of the border after new deadly clashes broke out along the border during the night.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that seven Lebanese citizens were killed and 52 others injured, including a four-year-old girl, as a result of the clashes.
The armed confrontation began after the temporary Syrian government accused the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah of crossing the Syrian border on Saturday, March 15, kidnapping three soldiers, and killing them on Lebanese territory.
Hezbollah denies its involvement, while some other reports point to local clans in the border region who are not directly linked to the group but are involved in cross-border smuggling.
These were the most serious cross-border clashes since December when the regime of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in Syria.
Situation in the Middle East
After the removal of the Islamic movement Hayat Tahrir al-Sham from Bashar al-Assad's regime, Syria has experienced acute political and security instability.
The new administration, led by movement leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, is establishing ties with Western and global countries.
At the same time, supporters of Assad recently engaged in armed clashes with representatives of the new government, resulting in 48 fatalities from both sides. Additionally, religiously motivated clashes have occurred in the country.
The current president of Syria called these attacks an attempt by Assad's supporters to ignite a civil war in the country.
