A Lebanese Army bulldozer building sand walls to block an illegal border crossing between Lebanon and Syria. (Credit: Photo from the Lebanese Army’s X account)
The Lebanese Army announced on Saturday that its troops have closed “four illegal crossing points” in the northern and eastern border regions between Syria and Lebanon, specifically in the areas known as Macharih al-Qaa and al-Qasr-Hermel. The move comes as part of “efforts to combat infiltration and smuggling along the northern and eastern borders.”
“As part of combating infiltration and smuggling across the northern and eastern borders, a unit of the Lebanese Army has closed four illegal crossings in the areas of Macharih al-Qaa and al-Qasr-Hermel,” read the statement published on the military’s X account.
On March 16 and 17, violent clashes erupted on the northeastern Lebanese border and the southwestern Syrian side, leaving at least seven dead and dozens injured. The fighting was reportedly linked to a struggle for control of this strategic area, where the border demarcation remains unclear and smuggling networks — as well as Hezbollah’s influence — raise growing concerns. The Hermel region had already witnessed similar deadly confrontations in early February.
On Thursday, a ministerial committee tasked with monitoring the border situation with Syria recommended “reinforcing the army” in that region.
