These measures were taken by the new Syrian power after Lebanese soldiers arrested Syrian armed men.
The new Syrian authorities have imposed restrictions on the entry of Lebanese people through the Masnaa border post between the two countries, a Lebanese General Security official, who requested anonymity, told AFP on Friday. In a statement, the Lebanese army announced that one of its soldiers had been injured by “shooting from Syrian men” on one of his patrols which was in the process of “close an illegal crossing point” Friday. According to a Lebanese military source, Syrian armed men were briefly arrested by the Lebanese authorities following this clash.
An official from the Lebanese General Security told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that the Lebanese side had been “surprised by the border closure” in front of Lebanese people, without having been notified in advance. A security source at the main border crossing between the two countries, Masnaa, told AFP that the Syrian authorities had “introduces new measures” restricting the entry of Lebanese who do not have a residence permit in Syria. The official, who requested anonymity, said the Syrians were perhaps responding to similar measures long imposed by Lebanon.
It is the first incident of its kind since an armed coalition dominated by Islamists took power in Syria on December 8. Syria's new leader, Ahmad al-Shareh, promised on December 22 that his country would no longer exert influence “negative” in Lebanon and would respect the sovereignty of its neighbor. No official contact has yet taken place since the fall of Bashar al-Assad between Syria and Lebanon, which suffered for decades from the interference of the Assad clan, to whom much violence is attributed, including multiple assassinations. .
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