Lebanon expelled about 70 Syrian officers and soldiers on Monday and returned them to Syria, as they entered the country illegally through unofficial routes, Reuters reported, citing a Lebanese security official.
Many senior Syrian officials and people close to Bashar al-Assad's former ruling family fled the country to neighboring Lebanon after the Assad regime was toppled on December 8.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a London-based group with sources in Syria, and a Lebanese security official said that Syrian military personnel of various ranks were sent back through the northern Lebanese crossing point Arida.
The HRW and the security official added that the returnees were detained by the new authorities in Syria after crossing the border.
In recent days, the new Syrian administration has taken strict measures against "remnants" of the Assad regime, Reuters noted.
A Lebanese security official said that the Syrian officers and soldiers were found in a truck in the northern coastal city of Jbeil after a check by local officials.
Reuters said that Lebanese and Syrian government officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.