The Lebanese General Security and the Lebanese Army handed over around 70 Syrians, including officers of various ranks from the former regime forces, in the presence of a Lebanese security delegation at the Arida border crossing in the north, a security source told L'Orient Today's correspondent in the north Saturday. 

They were transported in three buses belonging to the Lebanese General Security, accompanied by a vehicle from the Lebanese Army Intelligence, the security source said. 

"The individuals were handed over to the Syrian military operations department and were then walked across to the Syrian side. It is worth noting that those handed over today had been arrested yesterday in the Jbeil area after entering Lebanon illegally through one of the unofficial border crossings. This marks the first instance of Lebanese security collaboration with the new Syrian authorities," L'Orient Today's correspondent in the north reported.

The individuals were apprehended the previous day by the Barbara municipality police and the Jbeil unit of the Internal Security Forces in northern Lebanon, our correspondent reported.

They were found to have entered Lebanon illegally through one of the country’s unauthorized border crossings.

In early December, the Lebanese army said it had strengthened its "units responsible for monitoring the northern and eastern borders" and its control measures in the area.

"At the same time, the units deployed throughout the Lebanese territory are implementing exceptional measures to preserve security and protect civil peace," the army added, saying that its command "is closely monitoring the situation on the borders."

Reporting contributed by Michel Hallak