Beruit
The Lebanese Army announced on Monday the closure of six “illegal” border crossings and the seizure of smuggled weapons and fuel along the Syrian-Lebanese border.
In a statement on X, the Lebanese Armed Forces confirmed that the closed crossings, located in Masharee al-Qah, al-Sayed Ali, Qabash and Hirmil, were being used for smuggling operations.
The Lebanese Army reported that it thwarted ongoing and previous smuggling activities, detaining six individuals involved in trafficking operations.
According to sources, a patrol from the Lebanese Intelligence Directorate, supported by an army unit, arrested five Lebanese and one Syrian individual following information of smuggling activities at an illegal crossing in the Masharee al-Qah area.
The Lebanese Armed Forces also arrested a person who was involved in smuggling operations, opening illegal crossings and reopening closed routes after previous army shutdowns.
Additionally, the Lebanese Armed Forces arrested another individual suspected of facilitating smuggling operations, operating illegal crossings and reopening other crossings after the army’s closure.
On March 16, violent clashes erupted between the Syrian Military Operations Department and Hezbollah militants near the city of Qusayr in rural Homs, along the Syrian-Lebanese borders.
The confrontations resulted in the deaths of two civilians, and eight members of the Department of Military Operations before the latter gained control of the border village of al-Sayed Ali
Following the clashes, Syrian and Lebanese authorities reached an agreement stipulating the withdrawal of the Lebanese Armed Forces and cessation of military operations in the village. The agreement also included a provision allowing Syrian forces to re-enter the village if a security threat from Hezbollah emerged.
