A Syrian bulldozer closing an illegal crossing at the northern border of Lebanon. (Photo provided by Michel Hallak)
For the second consecutive day, the Syrian authorities of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) closed illegal crossings on the Syrian banks of the al-Kabir River, near Lebanon's northern border, L'Orient Today's correspondent in the region reported. Similarly, on the northeast border of Lebanon, in the Hermel region, crossings started to be blocked by HTS in the Syrian villages close to the border, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the Bekaa.
On Lebanon's northern border, Syrian bulldozers were actively working on Wednesday to close numerous unauthorized crossings using high mounds of earth. The Lebanese army had already closed several of these crossing points on the Lebanese side.
Syrian sources said that this operation would take time due to the large number of crossings constantly opened by gangs on both sides of the border that have properties in the sector and take advantage of the low river levels caused by the absence of rainfall this winter.
Landowners Warned
The owners of the concerned lands were warned by the Syrian authorities and threatened with legal repercussions, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent who explained that these crossings facilitate smuggling at the northern and northeastern border with Syria or in the heights of Wadi Khaled and Jabal Akroum in northern Lebanon.
These passages notably allow the smuggling of fuel, domestic gas cylinders and food products from Lebanon to Syria. The owners of the concerned lands open passages within their lands and offer protection to smugglers on both sides who spend huge sums to have priority over specific passages.
This action was reinforced by the recent closure of legal crossing points at Lebanon's northern border, after their destruction by numerous Israeli strikes, especially during the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Farmers, traders and industrialists called to reopen the Arida, Abboudieh crossings and the Kimar Bridge in Wadi Khaled, to facilitate the legal movement of goods between the two countries.
On Sunday night, Israel conducted airstrikes in eastern and southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah by bombing smuggling routes along the border with Syria. During the war that Israel and Hezbollah engaged in from late September to late November 2024, following their daily confrontations since Oct. 8, 2023, and the outbreak of the Gaza war, the Israeli army repeatedly bombed various points at the Lebanon-Syria border, including official border posts.
Since the cease-fire that took effect on Nov. 27, several incidents have occurred at the level of illegal crossing points. One of the most serious occurred in late December, when the Lebanese army clashed with armed elements on the Syrian side, near a crossing point in the Bekaa.