DAMASCUS, July 17 (Reuters) - More than 100,000 people have crossed into Syria from Lebanon over the past five days to escape Israeli attacks, Syrian authorities said on Monday.

Official data obtained by Reuters showed that at least 24,000 Lebanese entered Syria through four crossing points since Thursday, when Israeli strikes to avenge the abduction of two soldiers by Hizbollah fighters intensified.

At least 27,000 Arabs, mostly Gulf tourists, also left, together with more than 6,500 foreigners and 19,000 Syrians.

Syrian border posts registered another 28,000 people leaving Lebanon, but their nationalities were not yet recorded.

Foreign governments have started evacuating their citizens from Lebanon by sea and air.

Syria remains Lebanon's only outlet to the world since Israel blockaded Lebanese ports and destroyed the country's transport infrastructure.

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