Lebanese soldiers on the border with Syria. (Credit: Illustrative Photo/Lebanese Army)
BEIRUT — A Lebanese soldier was killed and another injured in armed clashes with traffickers on the northern border with Syria, the army said in a tweet on Saturday evening. The army had first reported two injured soldiers, one of whom later succumbed to his injuries after being hospitalized. The second soldier's is in a stable condition.
According to our correspondent in North Lebanon, the army sent reinforcements to the site of the clashes.
The border between Lebanon and Syria remains very porous, despite the installation of observation towers in recent years. Cross-border smuggling operations remain commonplace, despite the army's efforts to crack down on such activity.