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A rocket fired from Lebanon has wounded two Syrian border police and triggered retaliatory gunfire from Syrian forces, officials and Lebanon's General Security agency said.
"ON Monday at dawn, gunmen fired a rocket from Buqaya, in Lebanese territory, towards Syria, hitting a Syrian immigration post and wounding two border police," a statement from the agency's general directorate said.
It is the first time the agency has reported firing from Lebanon into Syrian territory.
Buqaya is located in the Akkar district, 185km north of Beirut.
"The Syrians pursued the gunmen and, during the pursuit, a Lebanese General Security post was hit," the statement added.
"A Syrian unit arrived at the Lebanese post and apprehended two members of General Security, taking them into Syrian territory before releasing them."
The men who fired the rocket managed to escape, a General Security spokesman told AFP.
No Lebanese personnel were wounded, the spokesman added.
A local official said: "Armed men, riding a motorcycle, shot a rocket towards the Syrian village of Msherfe at (1000 AEST).
"The Syrian forces immediately returned fire with automatic weapons, and the shooting lasted about 10 minutes. There were no casualties on the Lebanese side but one house was damaged."
The incident sparked a strong reaction from Lebanese President Michel Sleiman.
"A Syrian military unit crossing the Lebanese border and apprehending two Lebanese General Security personnel before releasing them is unacceptable, contrary to international law, and violates the principle of coordination between the two countries," Sleiman said in a statement.
Sleiman called for an investigation to "determine responsibility and prevent the recurrence of such acts" in order to maintain "bilateral relations based on mutual respect for sovereignty and independence".
Lebanon's political parties are deeply divided over the 15-month revolt in Syria, with the Western-backed opposition supporting the uprising and Hezbollah, which plays a key role in the government, backing the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Read more: Lebanon rocket wounds two Syrian police | News.com.au
"ON Monday at dawn, gunmen fired a rocket from Buqaya, in Lebanese territory, towards Syria, hitting a Syrian immigration post and wounding two border police," a statement from the agency's general directorate said.
It is the first time the agency has reported firing from Lebanon into Syrian territory.
Buqaya is located in the Akkar district, 185km north of Beirut.
"The Syrians pursued the gunmen and, during the pursuit, a Lebanese General Security post was hit," the statement added.
"A Syrian unit arrived at the Lebanese post and apprehended two members of General Security, taking them into Syrian territory before releasing them."
The men who fired the rocket managed to escape, a General Security spokesman told AFP.
No Lebanese personnel were wounded, the spokesman added.
A local official said: "Armed men, riding a motorcycle, shot a rocket towards the Syrian village of Msherfe at (1000 AEST).
"The Syrian forces immediately returned fire with automatic weapons, and the shooting lasted about 10 minutes. There were no casualties on the Lebanese side but one house was damaged."
The incident sparked a strong reaction from Lebanese President Michel Sleiman.
"A Syrian military unit crossing the Lebanese border and apprehending two Lebanese General Security personnel before releasing them is unacceptable, contrary to international law, and violates the principle of coordination between the two countries," Sleiman said in a statement.
Sleiman called for an investigation to "determine responsibility and prevent the recurrence of such acts" in order to maintain "bilateral relations based on mutual respect for sovereignty and independence".
Lebanon's political parties are deeply divided over the 15-month revolt in Syria, with the Western-backed opposition supporting the uprising and Hezbollah, which plays a key role in the government, backing the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Read more: Lebanon rocket wounds two Syrian police | News.com.au
