At least eight Syrian soldiers and two civilians were killed in a shelling by the Lebanese radical group Hezbollah on Monday in the Syrian governorate of Homs, the North Press agency (NPA) reported, citing military sources.

According to the Syrian agency, two Syrian journalists were also wounded in a rocket attack by Hezbollah.

Armed clashes between government forces and Hezbollah militants broke out on the Syrian-Lebanese border over the weekend. According to the new Syrian authorities, the reason was the kidnapping and killing of three Syrian army soldiers by Hezbollah.

The Lebanese army returned the bodies of the soldiers to the Syrian side.

The Lebanese Shia group denied any involvement in the incident.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese armed forces reported that a number of border settlements in the country were subjected to artillery shelling from the Syrian side. In response, Lebanese army units reported striking firing positions in Syrian territory.

A source in the Syrian Defense Ministry told NPA that the Syrian and Lebanese armed forces are coordinating efforts to ensure security on the border between the two countries.

Arab media outlets indicate that the situation on the Lebanese-Syrian border has aggravated since the opposition came to power in Syria.

Hezbollah, the Shia group, was supporting ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and helping him fight the armed opposition.