AKKAR — The Ministry of Public Works and Transport announced in a statement Saturday that it was establishing a temporary border crossing in northern Lebanon's al-Arida area, on the border with Syria.

This initiative is part of the ministry’s "ongoing efforts to maintain continuous border movement, particularly as the winter season comes to a close and the water level in the Great River decreases," the statement relayed by the state-run National News Agency reads.

According to the minister, the new crossing is meant to temporarily facilitate the passage of trucks and citizens until the "necessary technical studies to reconstruct the bridges destroyed during the Israeli aggression" are completed.

The measure is part of a larger plan to improve border connectivity between Lebanon and Syria, the ministry explained, involving rebuilding infrastructure damaged in conflict and generally easing the challenges along the border.

"By implementing temporary and developmental projects at the al-Aboudiya and Qamar Bridge crossings in Wadi Khaled, we aim to enhance infrastructure and improve the movement of people and goods across the border," the Ministry said.

These border crossings have suffered extensive damage due to Israeli bombardments, both during and after the war, which targeted vital bridges and facilities and led to a prolonged disruption of movement. Israel claimed to have been targeting Hezbollah supply routes.

Three border crossings with Syria, including Arida, were destroyed a few hours before the cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel took effect on Nov. 27 after almost 66 days of a full-scale war.