Syrian and Israeli jets violate Lebanese borders

Syrian jet fighters flew over Lebanon’s northern border before carrying out bombing raids on a hilltop castle in Syria’s Homs Gap on Friday, according to security sources. Sources said Syrian jets made several passes over Lebanese border regions at Wadi Khaled and Jabal Akroum on Friday afternoon. The planes then headed north towards the Homs Gap, launching an air raid on the historic Crac des Chevaliers fort, an 11th-century crusader castle based on a hill east of Tartus. The castle has previously seen heavy fighting between pro-regime and Free Syrian Army [FSA] forces during the 22-month Syrian crisis, despite the site being recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Israeli warplanes later proceeded to violate Lebanese airspace to the south of the country, conducting low-altitude flights near the northern areas of the Bekaa Valley. Lebanese Army command issued a statement confirming that "at 1730 hrs last night, two enemy warplanes executed circular flights over the southern towns of Lebanon before leaving in succession at 1900 hrs above the Ramish area."