A Lebanese soldier was injured on Friday during a clash between the Lebanese Army and armed Syrians at the eastern border near the Baalbek district. The confrontation occurred in the Maaraboun area when the army sought to shut down an illegal border crossing, sparking a gunfight. 

According to a statement from the Lebanese Army, soldiers were deployed to close an illegal border crossing when a group of Syrians attempted to reopen it using a bulldozer. In response, the army fired warning shots into the air, but the armed Syrians retaliated with gunfire, wounding one Lebanese soldier.

🇱🇧 🇸🇾 : After clashes on border, HTS militant records himself inside Lebanese territory, states “Lebanese army withdrew when they saw us” & that they “can take Lebanon in 2 hours” pic.twitter.com/tcFwgK6n8o

— OstensibleOyster (@Ostensiblay) January 3, 2025

Lebanese military reinforcements were reportedly deployed to secure the area, and strict security measures were implemented.

Following the clash, Syrian authorities imposed unexpected restrictions on the entry of Lebanese citizens. Previously, Lebanese nationals were allowed to enter Syria without a visa using their passport or ID. However, new rules now require Lebanese citizens to have residency permits or official permission to cross the border.

A Lebanese General Security official told AFP that the restrictions were enacted without prior notice, causing confusion among Lebanese citizens. Efforts to resolve the issue are underway, with Lebanese officials reportedly in communication with their Syrian counterparts to address the situation.

While the Lebanese Army described the clash as a response to armed smugglers attempting to reopen an illegal crossing, Syrian sources offered a different perspective. According to MTV, the skirmish involved known smugglers rather than organized armed groups. Syrian authorities have suggested that the clash was unrelated to the new border restrictions.