Lebanese army says it controls borders with Syria

In its first statement since reports of Syrian incursions into Lebanon, the Lebanese army said Monday that it was carrying out a mission to control the borders with Syria. The Lebanese army was coordinating with the Syrian army to deal possible security incidents on the common borders, which have seen tensions since Syrians began to cross into Lebanon to flee the unrest in their homeland, the Lebanese army said in a statement published by state-run National News Agency. "There has recently been much talk about developments happening on the land border with Syria. Sometimes, information is circulating about the entry of (Syrian) military forces into Lebanese territories to chase fugitives. At other times, there is talk about mine-planting operations inside or outside the Lebanese border. This information has been accompanied by questions about the (Lebanese) army's role in these developments," the statement said. "The Army Command would like to clarify that its units intervene immediately to deal with any violation if it takes place, " it said. The Lebanese army also vowed to take action to prevent arms smuggling and infiltration of gunmen from Lebanon into Syria. At least three Syrians were reportedly killed in October following the Syrian army's cross-border raids in east Lebanon, which prompted heightened tensions along the borders. Lebanon's West-backed March 14 alliance has called on the government and army to act to stop what they described as "Syrian violations" of the Lebanese borders.