Landmines found in farmland on the Lebanese bank of the al-Kabir river in North Lebanon, Jan. 22, 2024. (Courtesy of Michel Hallak)
Landmines were found on Monday morning in fields on the Lebanese bank of the al-Kabir River, in Akkar (North Lebanon), local residents told L'Orient Today's local correspondent.
The devices, spotted on the outskirts of the border village of Khatt al-Petrole, located in Wadi Khaled, are believed to have been driven from the Syrian bank by the recent flooding of the al-Kabir River.
According to our correspondent, the mines were placed by the Syrian authorities on the Syrian side of the river to combat attempts at illegal migration between the two countries.
The Lebanese army and the relevant security services have been informed of the presence of the devices.
Mines scattered across Lebanon during and after the many wars of recent decades are often found by local residents, sometimes resulting in casualties. Mine clearance operations carried out by UN teams and the Lebanese army have eliminated many of these devices, although some still remain.
Additional reporting by Michel Hallak.