BEIRUT: A number of Syrian families crossed into Lebanon Thursday morning via the Arida border crossing and the nearby river, sources told The Daily Star, as a security crackdown continues against anti-government protestors in Syria.

Sources could not confirm the number of families, but Lebanese newspaper Al-Liwaa reported that 20 Syrian families have crossed either through Arida or via Nahr al-Kabir.

A minor scuffle reportedly occurred between residents of the Syrian villages of Arab al-Shatee and Hmaidiyih 5 kilometers from the Syria-Lebanon border Thursday morning, which may have prompted some to flee to Lebanon.

On May 31, the number of Syrian refugees crossing into Lebanon declined and many trickled back into Syria as relative calm returned to southern towns near the border.

Syrians began crossing into Lebanon in large numbers two months ago, as Syrian authorities cracked down on protesters in the Syrian town of Tall Kalakh, 5 kilometers north of the Lebanese border.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 15 as demonstrators demand reform in the tightly controlled state. The Syrian leadership has repeatedly described the protest as a conspiracy against the country, and has cracked down on protestors, prompting international condemnation over its use of violence.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that more than 10,000 Syrians have fled to Turkey. The total number of refugees that have crossed into Lebanon is unknown.