"Overnight a large number of insurgents attacked a Lebanese army post in the Arsal region. This was the second time in less than a week that the Free Syrian Army has entered Lebanese territory," an official communique said on Saturday.

"Army reinforcements were dispatched to the area and began to pursue the gunmen, who fled after the attack towards the mountains and several border towns and villages" inside Lebanon.

"The army leadership will not allow any party to use Lebanese territory to implicate Lebanon into events in neighbouring countries, and reaffirms its determination to protect Lebanese territory," it added.