Syrian troops “dig trenches inside Lebanese territory”

Syrian troops “dig trenches inside Lebanese territory”

Syrian troops were allegedly digging long trenches between the regions of Rachaya and Haqel Ashty in the Kfarkouq area near the northern Lebanese border, according to Al-Mustaqbal newspaper on Sunday.

According to the newspaper, Syrian troops have remained in this area despite the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon in April 2005. 

Syrian troops, according to the report, are dug in about 500 meters inside Lebanese territory. Political sources told the newspaper that Syria was trying to occupy Lebanese territory in the border region prior to the completion of the demarcation process.

The sources said this issue was related to the Syrian military activity near the northern Syrian-Lebanese border.

Last week, thousands of Syrian troops amassed along the Lebanese border in what Damascus sad was an effort to combat smuggling.

According to a Lebanese Army spokesman quoted by AFP, "Nearly 10,000 Syrian special forces have been deployed in the Abbudiya region along the border between Lebanon and Syria." 

"We asked Damascus for clarification," the source added, "and we were told that the measures were strictly internal and on Syrian territory and that they were in no way directed against Lebanon."

Another military source confirmed that Syrian forces had deployed in Abbudiya, but he told The Daily Star, "There is no need to worry."

"The troop deployment on the northern border relates to Syrian internal affairs," he said, adding that the Lebanese Army has been "watching the border closely for some time now."

The army source said the troops were deployed to thwart smuggling, and that Damascus had informed Beirut beforehand.