Lebanese army rescues 49 Syrian asylum seekers from drowning

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) The Lebanese army saved on Sunday 51 asylum seekers, including 49 Syrians, from drowning after their boat capsized off the northern coast of Lebanon.

On Dec. 1, Lebanese authorities thwarted a smuggling operation involving 110 individuals, mostly Syrians, trying to reach Europe by sea.

The Lebanese army said in a statement that a boat capsized off the coast of Tripoli during an illegal human smuggling attempt.

It further stated that a naval patrol rescued 51 people, including two Palestinians and 49 Syrians. The army hospitalized them with the help of Lebanese Red Cross.

By Saad al-Yaziji