The UN Security Council has expressed “grave concern” about cross-border attacks on Lebanon from Syria.
The 15-nation council issued a statement late Wednesday calling for respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty following a bombing that killed three top security officials close to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.
Tens of thousands of Syrian refugees have fled across the border in recent months and the Lebanese army has moved troops from the border zone with Israel to the Syrian frontier, where there have been deadly incidents in recent weeks.
“Security Council members expressed grave concern over repeated incidents of cross-border fire, incursions, abductions, and arms trafficking across the Lebanese-Syrian border as well as other border violations,” said the statement, which came after a briefing on Lebanon on Monday.
“They underlined the importance of full respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and the authority of the Lebanese state in accordance with Security Council resolutions.”
The council praised efforts by Lebanese President Michel Sleiman to maintain political unity during the crisis. The Syrian uprising has raised tensions in Lebanon, where rival factions are divided over support for Assad’s regime.
“The commitment of the country’s leaders to safeguarding Lebanon from the impact of regional tensions at this difficult time is particularly important,” the statement said.
Two girls were killed in one recent cross border incident, and there was more shelling across the frontier on Monday followed by gunfire, local security officials said.
