Soldiers reportedly fire grenades, exchange heavy fire with rebels in rural mountain area of al-Qaa; Assad visits Baba Amr neighborhood

Syrian troops advanced into north Lebanon on Tuesday, destroying farm buildings and clashing with Syrian rebels who had taken refuge there, residents said.

"More than 35 Syrian soldiers came across the border and started to destroy houses," said Abu Ahmed, 63, a resident of the rural mountain area of al-Qaa.

Another resident said that the soldiers, some traveling in armored personnel vehicles, fired rocket-propelled grenades and exchanged heavy machinegun fire with rebels.

Meanwhile, Syria´s state-run news agency reported Tuesday that President Bashar Assad has traveled to the country´s Baba Amr neighborhood, a former rebel stronghold.

Baba Amr was the site of a monthlong siege by government forces who battled rebel fighters before driving them out. Hundreds of people were killed in the fighting there.

On Monday news websites affiliated with the opposition reported that Syria´s Defense Ministry issued restrictions requiring men between the age of 18 and 42 to obtain permission from military recruitment and immigration departments before leaving the country.

The move is apparently aimed at forcing Syrian men to join the army amid reports of desertions by conscripts. According to some reports, the restrictions went into effect on Monday.

A Saudi website contacted a number of young Syrians who claimed they had been prohibited from leaving the country.

In Aleppo, Syria´s second-largest city, half of the passengers who boarded a flight to Algeria were ordered off the plane because they did not meet the criteria specified in the new regulations.

A Syrian human rights activist said 10 people were killed Tuesday in attacks by Syrian army forces across the country.

Assad has used the army to crush protests against his 12-year rule. The United Nations says more than 8,000 people have been killed in the crackdown while Syrian authorities blame foreign-backed terrorists for the violence and say 3,000 soldiers and police have been killed. Reuters, AP contributed to the report (Copyright 2012 © Yedioth Internet 03/27/12)