Syrian rebels raid town inside Lebanon, killing two soldiers

Syrian rebels crossed into Lebanon yesterday, raiding a border town and killing two soldiers, the most serious incursion into the country by fighters from its neighbour's three-year civil war.

Masked gunmen roamed the streets of Arsal as Lebanese helicopter gunships flew over the town, some 88km from Beirut.

A Lebanese general said the gunmen attacked army positions near Arsal and troops returned fire. Another official said the gunmen also took control of the main police station in the town.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that the gunmen killed two soldiers and wounded several others. It also said they killed two residents near the police station.

The agency said Arsal residents later freed police officers at the station, though rebels captured some weapons and released several detainees.

The general said gunmen took a number of soldiers and police officers from their homes in Arsal, as well as two soldiers who were driving an army tanker truck. It was not clear if they were taken across the border into Syria or if they were still in Arsal.