Syria's Ali Confirms He Was Not Summoned by Mansour: Assaults on Lebanon Harm Syria

Syria's Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali stated on Saturday that he was not summoned by Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour on the backdrop of Friday's Syrian assault against Lebanese territories, assuring that his country is “the party negatively affected by the incident”.

“I have answered this question before. There is an ongoing cooperation between the two states,” Ali firmly said after meeting with FM Mansour.

He added: “The border between the two countries is subject to violations from gunmen and terrorist organizations that exploit Lebanon's land and hospitality to attack Syria”.

“Syria does not allow this and retaliates”.

A Syrian boat on Friday entered Lebanese territorial waters and opened fire on a Lebanese fishing boat off the northern coast of Arida, injuring a fisherman, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Also on Friday, three mortar shells from the Syrian side of the border fell on the al-Noura town in Akkar, but no casualties were reported.

These incidents are part of repetitive Syrian assaults against Lebanese territories since the eruption of the neighboring country's conflict in 2011.

Ali assured that discussions with Mansour did not touch on the incident, he said: “Syria is keen on preserving the relation we have with this country,” highlighting the necessity to tighten security measures and protect the border.

He remarked: “Mutual cooperation must take place to control the security situation and deter outlaws from threatening the interests of both countries”.

The ambassador revealed that the aim of his visit, however, was to “coordinate efforts regarding the trucks coming across the Lebanese-Syrian border".