BEIRUT: Artillery and rocket shells fired from Syria landed on the outskirts of three Lebanese northern border villages Friday, security sources told The Daily Star.

There were no causalities from the 2 a.m. shelling of Aboudieh, Noura and Minjiz, the sources added.

They said the intermittent shelling, which tapered off just before daybreak, forced some families to abandon their homes and seek refuge in safer areas.

Syrian forces also rained down machine gun fire on the northern border town of Arida overnight, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

No casualties were reported, but several homes sustained damage, the sources said.

They said the violence prompted many residents to flee their homes to safer areas.