After violence broke out between the current and past regimes in Syria, fearful residents have waded across a river to take refuge in Lebanon.

Ten thousand members of the Alawite minority escaping sectarian violence in Syria have crossed into Lebanon over the past five days and settled in northern towns and areas, heightening tension and rekindling past conflicts,

Fearing for their lives, Syrian men, women and children waded through a river to safety in Lebanon on Tuesday, among hundreds of people who have fled to the neighbouring country to escape sectarian killing targeting their Alawite community.