Lebanese Fishermen Attacked by Syrian Coastguards

 

Syrian coast guards have opened fire on a fishing boat inside Lebanese territorial waters, severely damaging it, local newspapers reported Monday.

 

As Safir daily quoted security sources as saying the Syrian boat penetrated Lebanese territorial waters off the northern town of Arida Sunday morning and fired 15 rounds of shots at two Lebanese fishermen.

 

The newspaper said the fishing boat and its engine were severely damaged in the incident. But the fishermen, Mahmoud Khodr Mustafa and Khaled Ahmed Ali, were unharmed.

 

Al Moustaqbal daily said the Syrian boat also seized hundreds of meters of fishing nets before the Lebanese coast guard intervened to prevent further confiscations.