Lebanese army fired on Syrian warplanes over Arsal

Lebanese forces have fired on Syrian aircraft that violated the country’s airspace, Security officials said on Monday

It was the first time since the outbreak of the Syria’s conflict three years ago that the Lebanese military took action to prevent Syrian warplanes from violating its airspace.

Syrian forces have fired toward Lebanon in the past, trying to deter rebels from fleeing to the neighboring country or from sheltering in Lebanese border towns.

The Lebanese officials say the military opened anti-aircraft fire at two Syrian warplanes on Monday after the aircraft bombed Khirbet Daoud, which lies in the Eastern Mountain Range in an area adjacent to the barren mountains of the Lebanese town of Arsal.

LBCI reported that Syrian warplanes hit the area with three rockets.

There was no immediate comment from the Lebanese military or from the Syrian government.

Arsal has a long shared border with Syria, stretching along much of Damascus province and part of Homs province.

Since the eruption of the neighboring country’s war, Arsal has repeatedly been targeted with Syrian rockets.