Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham terrorists are occupying the Lebanese side of the town of Hawsh al-Sayyed Ali and are burning and looting homes, displacing hundreds.

Syrian military forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have remained in Lebanese territory and are looting homes and property despite a ceasefire agreement aimed at stopping two days of violent border clashes and attacks on Lebanon by Damascus’s forces.

“Forces of the new Syrian administration penetrated five kilometers into Lebanese territory at 2:00 am and continued their advance throughout the morning, expanding their control over the town,” said Ali Mohammad Nasser al-Din, the mayor of the town of Hawsh al-Sayyed Ali located on the border – part of which lies in Lebanon’s territory.

According to the mayor, the Syrian forces seized a public school in the town and have displaced 500 families living in the area. “Homes were burned and looted during the military operations,” Nasser told Annahar.

Lebanese forces have reportedly reached the entrance of Hawsh al-Sayyed Ali for an operation to demarcate the border with Syria.

Lebanese MP Ihab Hamadeh told Al Mayadeen that the Syrian forces are “occupiers in every sense of the word, and it is the one leading the battle.”

“There is an occupation of Lebanese territory, and we are raising our voice on this matter to the president of the Republic, knowing that the army is confronting the occupiers,” he said, adding that “it won’t be long before the army enters the town of Hawsh al-Sayyed Ali, as it is currently being looted by the occupying militants.”

He added that the Lebanese army has reinforced its presence along the entire border with Syria.

The Syrian and Lebanese Defense Ministries reached a ceasefire agreement on Monday evening to end the fighting between HTS-led Syrian forces on one hand, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Lebanese tribesmen on the other.

“An agreement between the Syrian and Lebanese Defense Ministries stipulates a ceasefire on the border and enhanced coordination and cooperation between the two sides,” the Syrian Defense Ministry announced.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has appointed a ministerial committee aimed at implementing strict measures for border control and smuggling, as well as proper coordination between Beirut and Damascus.

“What is happening on the eastern and northeastern borders cannot continue,” said Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Syrian military attacks on Lebanon over the past two days have killed seven Lebanese and injured over 50, including civilians and children. Eleven Syrian army members were killed in clashes with the Bekaa tribesmen and Lebanese forces.

Syrian authorities claimed they were fighting Hezbollah on the border, despite the Lebanese resistance movement issuing a statement categorically denying its involvement in any of the recent events.

The fighting began several hours after three HTS fighters were found dead inside Lebanese territory and were handed over to Damascus by Lebanon’s Armed Forces (LAF) and the Red Cross on 16 March.

The Syrian Defense Ministry’s media office told Syrian state media outlet SANA that the “Hezbollah militia” kidnapped the three fighters on the border, took them to Lebanese territory, and “executed them on the spot.” Other reports say the three were already in Lebanese territory when they were killed.

Syrian forces retaliated by kidnapping and killing two young Lebanese men and leaving their bodies in the Matraba area where they were found on Monday.

The renewed fighting comes over one month after heavy clashes erupted in early February between Syrian military forces and Lebanese tribesmen. At the time, Syrian forces deployed troops to set up checkpoints in what they said was an attempt to thwart smuggling.

After agreeing with the LAF, the tribes withdrew from the border, and the fighting came to an end.

The Cradle Media report