Border war explodes: Syrian forces storm village, Lebanon fires back as chaos erupts

The move triggered a fierce military response from Beirut, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun ordering his army to retaliate against the sources of Syrian gunfire. Aoun emphasized that Lebanon “will not tolerate” continued border hostilities. According to the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese newspaper *Al-Akhbar*, the Syrian assault on the village unleashed heavy fighting, forcing local residents to flee amid the chaos. The clashes are now centered around the town of Al-Qasr, with exchanges of fire persisting between the two sides.

Reports from Lebanon indicate that intense Syrian shelling struck several settlements near Hermel, prompting the Lebanese army to target the origins of the attacks. In response, Beirut has bolstered its military presence, deploying additional forces to contain the escalating violence. Reuters reported that Syria’s Defense Ministry accused Hezbollah of abducting three Syrian soldiers near the border, a claim the group swiftly denied. Lebanese security sources countered that the soldiers had crossed into Lebanon and clashed with local armed tribesmen. Following their deaths, Syrian forces launched overnight artillery barrages on northern Lebanese towns. Lebanon’s Health Ministry confirmed a child was killed and six others injured in the shelling, driving residents from their homes in fear of further escalation.

The situation has spurred significant military mobilization. By Monday morning, Syrian reinforcements—including tanks and armored vehicles—rolled into the border zone. A senior commander under Julani stated the deployment aims to prevent “further violations of Syrian territory.” Lebanon’s government, meanwhile, is coordinating with Syrian authorities to de-escalate, but gunfire continues unabated. With both sides digging in and fears of a broader regional conflict mounting, the border crisis threatens to spiral out of control, testing the fragile stability of an already volatile region.