DUBAI, March 10. /TASS/. The Lebanese authorities fear that the clashes in Syria's western provinces will spill over into northern Lebanon, where Syrian Alawites have taken refuge, The National reported, citing to sources in Lebanon's security services.

Earlier, a Lebanese lawmaker told reporters in Beirut that about 10,000 Syrian Alawites have fled to Lebanon in the past five days to escape persecution in western Syria. The refugees are mainly heading for the city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon. Their arrival in the Alawite neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen has sparked protests from the city's Sunni population.

According to The National, the Lebanese security forces have increased their control over the Sunni neighborhood and have also set up checkpoints around the Alawite neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen. These neighborhoods are known for their longstanding and often violent confrontations between Sunnis and Alawites. "There have already been several clashes and the situation remains extremely volatile," the newspaper quoted a source as saying.

Following the change of power in Syria and the collapse of the government army, the country has been flooded with weapons, leading to a surge in the arms trade in neighboring Lebanon. Security sources told The National that Kalashnikov assault rifles were being sold on the black market for as little as $25. Thousands of weapons were being smuggled through illegal border crossings, especially in the north of the country.

Fearing the spread of violence, the Lebanese authorities closed all official border crossings except the main crossing between Beirut and Damascus. However, numerous illegal crossing routes continue to operate, allowing smugglers and militants to move freely between the two countries. An even greater threat, according to the newspaper's sources, is the possible actions of Syrian pro-government groups who may try to infiltrate Lebanon to pursue fleeing Alawites.

"There are fears that the Syrian forces, backed by local allies, will invade northern Lebanon to massacre the refugees," one of the newspaper's sources said. He also noted that Syrian militants have begun to build up forces along the Lebanese-Syrian border, especially in the Beqaa Valley area in the east.