Beirut - A Lebanese soldier was killed and another was wounded on
Wednesday when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a Lebanese army post
in Hermel, eastern Lebanon, security sources said.

Sadallah Khalil Yazbeck was killed and Mohammed al Khatib wounded
when gunmen fired at a post located 200 meters from the Syrian border.
The post was recently established to control smuggling in the border
region.

According to sources, army troops responded to the fire and a chase
was carried out for the gunmen who withdrew further east towards Syrian
territory. It could not be determined, however, if the gunmen had
managed to cross into Syria.

The Lebanese army command issued a statement confirming the
incident and said that some of the perpetrators were wounded while the
army was pursuing them.

A similar incident occurred a few days ago on the Syrian side of
the border when Syrian border police traded fire with gunmen believed
to be smugglers. (dpa)