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| Hezbollah condemned for 'attack on Syrian villages' | Hezbollah condemned for 'attack on Syrian villages' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Syrian rebels and the opposition have accused the Lebanese Shea group Hezbollah of attacking Syrian villages. | Syrian rebels and the opposition have accused the Lebanese Shea group Hezbollah of attacking Syrian villages. |
| The Syrian National Council (SNC) said Hezbollah fighters attacked three villages near the Lebanese border in support of the Syrian government. | |
| Hezbollah said three Lebanese Shea were killed in the clashes, in what rebels reportedly called an "unprecedented invasion" by the militant group. | Hezbollah said three Lebanese Shea were killed in the clashes, in what rebels reportedly called an "unprecedented invasion" by the militant group. |
| Hezbollah has denied it has sent its members to fight for the Syrian regime. | Hezbollah has denied it has sent its members to fight for the Syrian regime. |
| Lebanese officials have long accused Hezbollah's military wing, the Islamic Resistance, of fighting in Syria, while the US says Hezbollah provides training, advice, and logistical support to the Syrian military. | Lebanese officials have long accused Hezbollah's military wing, the Islamic Resistance, of fighting in Syria, while the US says Hezbollah provides training, advice, and logistical support to the Syrian military. |
| According to the SNC and Syrian Revolution General Commission (SRGC) opposition groups, Hezbollah fighters crossed into central Syria on Saturday and attacked three villages in the Quasar region of Homs. | |
| "The Hezbollah force moved on foot and was supported by multiple rocket launchers. The Free Syrian Army [FSA] had to call in two tanks that had been captured from the Assad army to repel the attack," SERGE spokesman Hade al-Abdallah told Reuters news agency. | "The Hezbollah force moved on foot and was supported by multiple rocket launchers. The Free Syrian Army [FSA] had to call in two tanks that had been captured from the Assad army to repel the attack," SERGE spokesman Hade al-Abdallah told Reuters news agency. |
| An FSA spokesman was quoted in the Lebanese newspaper al-Nahar as saying the alleged Hezbollah operation was the biggest of its kind. | An FSA spokesman was quoted in the Lebanese newspaper al-Nahar as saying the alleged Hezbollah operation was the biggest of its kind. |
| "Hezbollah's invasion is the first of its kind in terms of organisation, planning and coordination with the Syrian regime's air force," Luay al-Miqdad said. | "Hezbollah's invasion is the first of its kind in terms of organisation, planning and coordination with the Syrian regime's air force," Luay al-Miqdad said. |
| An unnamed Hezbollah spokesman was reported as confirming the three Shia deaths, but without saying whether they belong to the group. | An unnamed Hezbollah spokesman was reported as confirming the three Shia deaths, but without saying whether they belong to the group. |
| AFP news agency quoted the spokesman as saying the dead fighters had been acting "in self-defence". | AFP news agency quoted the spokesman as saying the dead fighters had been acting "in self-defence". |
| At least five Syrian rebels were also killed in the clashes, unconfirmed reports said. | At least five Syrian rebels were also killed in the clashes, unconfirmed reports said. |
| Hezbollah is strongly backed by Iran, a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. | Hezbollah is strongly backed by Iran, a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. |
| The latest reports come days after a senior commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards was killed travelling from Syria to Lebanon. | The latest reports come days after a senior commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards was killed travelling from Syria to Lebanon. |