BEIRUT — Lebanon's state-run news agency says Lebanese troops have captured three Syrian gunmen as they tried to cross the border toward a contested region in Syria. National News Agency says the Syrians were detained near the Lebanese border town of Arsal while on their way to the Qalamoun hills, which have been witnessing intense clashes between government and opposition forces over the past month. It said the three were detained after midnight Sunday and had light weapons and telecommunications equipment with them. Since the battles of Qalamoun began last month, the Lebanese army reinforced its positions on the border to prevent infiltrations that are widespread between the two neighboring countries. The Qalamoun battles forced thousands of Syrians to flee for safety in Lebanon over the past weeks. – AP
