Syria says security forces have killed a Muslim extremist and arrested dozens of others trying to illegally cross into neighboring Lebanon.
Syria's official news agency (SANA) says the clash erupted after the militant opened fire on a Syrian border patrol. Two soldiers were killed in the clash. The report did not say when or where the incident occurred, and only identified the dead militant by the initials MZ.
The news agency says 34 extremists of various nationalities were arrested following the clash. Security forces reportedly later found passports, identity cards and other forged documents in an isolated house near the border allegedly used by the group.
Syria has been under intense pressure to crack down on suspected militants who the United States and Iraq say are using Syrian territory to infiltrate Iraq to fight coalition forces.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
