TRIPOLI: Ayman al-Owaishi, a young Lebanese man, became Friday the first casualty of landmines planted by Syrian troops along the Syria-Lebanon border.

Owaishi, 24, was wounded when he stepped on a landmine planted in the border town of Amayra in the Wadi Khaled region of north Lebanon, a security source said.

The source said Owaishi was rushed to hospital and was receiving treatment at the Salam hospital in Qobayat.

President Michel Sleiman confirmed earlier this week that the Syrian Army had planted landmines along the border with Lebanon.

Local officials have said the Syrian measure was aimed at preventing arms smuggling along the border and Syrian dissidents from crossing into Lebanon.