Damascus, April 15: A group of snipers have opened fire on Syrian soldiers in western part of the country, killing one serviceman and injuring another.
“A group of snipers opened fire on soldiers as they were on patrol in [the city of] Banias,” reported the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Thursday.
Since mid-March, Syria has been struggling with weeks of protests that have left scores of people dead, including security forces.
The government has blamed the protests on armed gangs and foreign powers.
Also on Thursday, Lebanese security forces detained two individuals attempting to drive two vehicles, laden with weapons and ammunitions, into Syria.
On Wednesday, Syrian State TV broadcast pictures of what it described as confessions by members of a terrorist group. Security forces say the group’s members received money and arms from foreign elements to carry out terrorist operations and incite unrest.
Syrian authorities have also announced the arrest of foreign elements that have played a role in provoking the recent tensions in the country.
Damascus has repeatedly denied allegations that its security forces were responsible for shooting at protesters, insisting that officers were given specific orders not to harm civilians.
———Agencies