BEIRUT: A Syrian farmer died from a gun shot wound as a result of gun fire by the Syrian Army into the Bekaa village of Arsal Thursday afternoon, a high rank security source told The Daily Star.

After the incident, the Syrian army group who had crossed into Lebanon withdrew into Syrian territory with out any explanation or communication with the Lebanese authorities.

The body of Ali al-Khatib, a Syrian married to a Lebanese woman, is still at the location where he was shot, the source said.

Reports emerged Tuesday that two Syrian armored vehicles crossed the Lebanese border into Arsal, firing at an abandoned batteries factory in the area, before heading back to Syria.

Local residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Daily Star Wednesday that the vehicles had been two armored personnel carriers (APC) and had fired at farmers’ homes.

Politicians of the March 14 coalition voiced their condemnation of the Tuesday incident and criticized the government’s silence regarding the incursion.

Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi defended Thursday the government’s decision not to issue a statement on the matter, saying: "That the government did not issue any statement condemning the Syrian incursion in Arsal [is because] Lebanese security and army services are fulfilling their duties and this issue is being handled by security forces."

Batroun MP Butros Harb also urged the Lebanese government to “immediately” summon Syria’s Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel-Karim Ali to protest the incident.