7 killed 21 wounded in attack on Lebanon Bus in Syria

Seven people were killed and 21 others were wounded Saturday after a bus carrying pilgrims was struck by a mortar bomb while undergoing inspection on the Syrian side of the border with Lebanon.

The dead included a Lebanese man and six members of the Syrian General Security,

The Lebanese victim was identified as Mohammad al-Tala, who, along with other member of the bus, was on his way to Iraq on a Shiite pilgrimage, according to Lebanese security sources.

The other victims were members of Syrian General Security who were inspecting the vehicle that had earlier passed through the border crossing of Jouesiyeh near the Lebanese border village of al-Qaa in eastern Lebanon.

The wounded were transported to three hospitals in Lebanon.

According to sources the vast majority of the passengers were Lebanese from the Hermel region and that they had been on their way to Iraq on a Shiite pilgrimage.