Cars were already lined up on Tuesday morning before crossing the border at Arida between Lebanon and Syria. (Credit: Mohammed Yassine/L'Orient Today)
The Arida border crossing, one of the official crossing points between Lebanon and Syria, reopened this morning at 8 a.m., according to L'Orient Today's journalists on the ground. This post is located between the Tartus region in western Syria and northern Lebanon. It had been closed due to regular Israeli strikes on the infrastructure until Nov. 27, 2024.
"We inform travelers that the Arida border crossing with Lebanon will be open to passenger traffic on Tuesday morning, despite ongoing restoration and maintenance work, in order to facilitate the movement of people during the Eid al-Adha celebration," announced Syrian authorities a few days before the reopening. Eid al-Adha, a Muslim celebration marking the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca, will be celebrated from Thursday evening until Monday, June 9.
The statement did not say whether the passage between the two countries would be limited to cars and buses carrying passengers, or if it would also include freight trucks.
"It seems that traffic is now limited to private cars and passenger buses, and it is unknown if transport trucks will also be allowed to cross," L'Orient Today's correspondent in region said. "This issue remains uncertain for now, the return of transit traffic and freight transport between Lebanon and Syria in the north would revive all economic and agricultural sectors."
On-site, traces of the Israeli strikes that targeted it last November, repeatedly, before the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect, were still visible. Part of the bridge is still destroyed. Restoration work is ongoing.
Around 7 a.m., about 10 cars were already waiting to pass through General Security on the Lebanese side. As the minutes passed, vehicles continued to flow in. Just before 9 a.m., more than 100 people had crossed from Lebanon to Syria. Car traffic in both directions between Lebanon and Syria quickly intensified from the opening of the border post, which aims to facilitate the passage of Syrians and Lebanese, especially for Eid al-Adha.
However, Syrian cars were seen refueling at several gas stations along the road linking Aboudieh to Debsieh, not far from the border crossing.
Lebanese and Syrian authorities were taking necessary measures to facilitate the passage movement, particularly for Syrians who wish to return to their country, after being displaced in 2011 during the civil war.
'Hundreds of vehicles' at the border
The director of local and international relations at the Syrian Land and Sea Ports Authority, Mazen Alloush, said in a statement on Tuesday that “around 1,500 citizens and hundreds of vehicles crossed from both sides unhindered between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.” He also said that staff “are spread across all the facilities at the crossing,” claiming to have established direct communication with officials on the Lebanese side to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.
According to Alloush, the opening of the crossing was precipitated despite work still in progress, due to “numerous requests from citizens wishing to come to Syria for Eid al-Adha.” He also pointed out that the crossing was “well equipped, but there are still a few preparations to be completed after the holiday.”
“The Syrian Authority is ready to provide the necessary efforts to facilitate the passage of Syrian, Arab and foreign citizens through this crossing,” he added.
The northern Lebanon border crossings, including Arida, had been damaged by Israeli bombings last November. Israel stated after these strikes that they were targeting Hezbollah's supply routes, and these bombings killed, among others, a young girl. Besides the bridge spanning the river, the General Security post – responsible for controlling entries and exits from Lebanon – the nearby fishing port, and village residences were also damaged.
Quick repairs were made at the request of former Lebanese Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ali Hamieh. The current minister, Fayez Rassamny, announced the opening of a temporary walkway for this border crossing, and more extensive work is still underway to rebuild the bridge over the al-Kabir river.