BEIRUT: A Lebanese man was wounded by shots fired across the Syrian border in Akkar late Thursday, hours after a Syrian troops strayed into Lebanese territory and damaged a Lebanese military vehicle with gunfire.

The National News Agency said Ahmad Zeidan Ahmad was wounded by gunfire that struck homes in the villages of Hnayder and Kenayseh, which are located in a small pocket of Lebanon that is surrounded by Syrian territory on three sides.

The Red Cross transferred Ahmad to Rahhal hospital for treatment.

Earlier in the day, 15 soldiers from the Syrian Army crossed into Lebanon briefly while in pursuit of people “fleeing” into the same area of Akkar.

The NNA said the soldiers crossed more than 300 meters into Lebanon, near the village of Mounseh, and remained “for a few minutes,” before returning to Syria.

When a Lebanese army infantry unit arrived to investigate, Syrian soldiers positioned on nearby hills fired rounds due to “confusion” over the identity of the Lebanese troops, the NNA said.

Hours after the attack, the Lebanese Army confirmed reports of the afternoon incident.

“A Syrian Arab Army patrol entered Lebanese territory at Mounseh in the north, crossing 200 meters into Lebanese territory while pursuing people who were fleeing over the border,” said an army statement.

It added that the a military vehicle was damaged by Syrian gunfire from inside Syria, and that the two armies were following up the incident.

Akkar has been the destination of several hundred Syrian refugees throughout the year.