Report: Syria strikes refugee camp in Lebanon
Airstrike kills nine people, wounds nine more; rebels capture arms depot north of Damascus
The refugee camp is located near the Syrian border, between the towns of Baalbeck and Arsal in the Bekaa Valley, the National News Agency said.
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Saturday's strike was not the first by the Syrian government, which has accused rebels of smuggling arms and supplies across the border. Four months ago, two Syrian jets fired three rockets that hit empty buildings near Arsal, in what was then deemed by the US. State Department spokeswoman "significant escalation."
More than 600,000 Syrians have fled to neighboring Lebanon, a country of about 4 million people, according to a UN estimate. But the Lebanese government puts the total at more than 1 million. Whatever the true figure, there is no dispute that the influx has destabilized the area and heightened tensions.
Also on Saturday, Syrian rebels captured an ammunition depot north of Damascus from President Bashar Assad's forces, activists said, seizing a hoard of anti-tank missiles and rockets which will strengthen their firepower after a string of defeats.
Video footage of the raid showed preparations for the operation and the operation itself. The video showed the target and a brief group prayer, after which the rebels go out and attack the depot.
Saturday's raid yielded French-made Milan anti-tank missiles, Russian Konkurs missiles and Grad rockets, according to video footage which showed the victorious rebels carrying off their haul through the dark corridors of the captured complex.
"Our return to Qusair just got closer," shouted one fighter, referring to the former rebel stronghold and border town which was captured two months ago by Lebanese Hezbollah terrorists allied to Assad.
This week the Syrian army regained control of the strategic city of Homs after weeks of intense fighting. "Units of our noble army have completely restored security and stability to Khalidiya neighborhood," state news agency SANA said.
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