Rockets fired by Syria militants hit Hermel in Lebanon

Rockets fired by Syria militants hit Hermel in Lebanon
Tue Oct 22, 2013 09:32:08

Four rockets fired by militants in Syria have targeted the outskirts of Lebanese border city of Hermel, but there have been no immediate reports on casualties.

According to security sources, the incident took place on Monday, near the northeastern city that is situated in Bekaa Valley near the border with Syria.

One of the rockets is said to have fallen near a military barrack. Sources following up on the issue said the rockets were targetting artillery installations in the town.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the foreign-backed militants fighting against the Syrian government have reportedly carried out similar attacks in the past.

The attack comes amid reports that the Syrian Army is preparing to launch an attack to regain rebel-held areas in the strategic border area of Qalamoun, adjacent to the eastern town of Arsal.

On June 11, one person was killed and several others injured after a dozen rockets fired by anti-Syria militants hit Hermel.

The Lebanese army said the attack caused heavy damage to some residential buildings.

On September 28, reports said a rocket fired by the militants in Syria hit northern Lebanon, wounding three Lebanese soldiers in Akkar district.

Monday assault comes as occasional cross-border rocket attacks have given rise to fears of the spillover of Syria turmoil into Lebanon.

Syria has repeatedly reported cases of infiltration attempts by militants from Lebanon across its border.

Unrest has gripped Syria since March 2011. According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.

According to reports, more than 100,000 people have been killed and millions displaced.

NTJ/BA

string(1387) "[{"id":"1480031","sort":"3110027","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/06/01/alalam_635056933146808743_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"4 rockets fired from Syria militants hit Lebanon"} ,{"id":"1482069","sort":"3110028","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/06/07/alalam_635062130433814468_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Army warns of plot linking Lebanon to Syria war"} ,{"id":"1483631","sort":"3110029","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/06/12/alalam_635066318769320064_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Rockets fired by Syria militants hit Lebanon"} ,{"id":"1484187","sort":"3110030","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/06/14/alalam_635068084028113971_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Syria urges Lebanon to 'guarantee border security'"} ,{"id":"1485945","sort":"3110031","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/06/19/alalam_635072283980264872_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Syria foils rebels’ infiltration attempt from Lebanon"} ,{"id":"1508302","sort":"3110032","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/08/22/alalam_635127944191393225_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Rockets fired from Syria land in eastern Lebanon"} ,{"id":"1515163","sort":"3110033","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/09/09/alalam_635143451227326233_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Lebanon urges Arabs to unite against war on Syria"} ,{"id":"1515774","sort":"3110034","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/09/11/alalam_635144912271873755_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Syria rebels smuggle Captagon through Lebanon"} ]"