France is mediating to address the escalating clashes on the Syrian-Lebanese border, involving communications from President Macron to key officials from Lebanon and Syria. The situation escalated with violent confrontations arising from attempts to curb smuggling. The Lebanese Armed Forces are responding to ongoing attacks, while Israeli airstrikes have targeted Hezbollah positions, complicating the stability in the region.
France has proposed its mediation efforts to quell the ongoing hostilities along the Syrian-Lebanese border that have escalated in recent days. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed commitment to assist in stabilizing the situation in separate communications with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and President Joseph Aoun, as reported by the Elysee.
Macron also reached out to Syrian transitional President Ahmad Sharaa, previously known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, inviting him to visit France. Both Aoun and Sharaa communicated over the phone on Saturday, agreeing to pursue measures aimed at de-escalating tensions and protecting civilian lives.
The clashes ignited on February 6 in Hawik, a town straddling the Lebanese-Syrian border, recognized as a smuggling hotspot. Tensions escalated when the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-led Military Operations Department established checkpoints purportedly to combat smuggling, leading to severe confrontations with local Lebanese tribes.
In response to the violence, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) urged the tribes to withdraw from the confrontation and has significantly increased its presence in the border area due to continued hostilities from the Syrian side, which includes rocket and drone attacks targeting Lebanon.
The LAF reported on February 9 that incidents of shelling from Syria have repeatedly struck adjacent Lebanese territories. The army stated, “Following the statement regarding the issuance of orders to military units to respond to sources of fire launched from Syrian territory targeting Lebanese territory… while army units continue to respond with appropriate weapons.”
The conflict has led to casualties on both sides, including fatalities among Lebanese tribesmen and HTS militants. Exchanges of captives have occurred, illustrating the high tensions. Recently, drones launched by Syrian forces were downed by Lebanese tribesmen, while continued shelling has been reported from the Syrian side.
Israeli warplanes, meanwhile, have conducted airstrikes targeting the periphery of the Lebanese town of Hermel, which is located near the ongoing conflict area. According to the Israeli army, the strikes aimed to destroy an underground tunnel utilized by Hezbollah for transporting weapons from Syria into Lebanon.
In summary, France has offered crucial mediation to address the severe clashes on the Syrian-Lebanese border, with President Macron actively engaging with Lebanese and Syrian officials. The ongoing violence has prompted significant military responses from the Lebanese Armed Forces, aiming to protect civilians amid escalating tensions. Continued conflicts and external threats from Israeli airstrikes add further complexity to the regional security dynamics.
Original Source: thecradle.co
