The road to the Arida border crossing, connecting northern Lebanon to Syria, on June 3, 2025. This route had been damaged by an Israeli strike on Dec. 5 of last year. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient-Le Jour)
It’s 6:40 a.m. when about 10 cars begin lining up at the first General Security checkpoint outside the Arida border post, which connects northern Lebanon’s Akkar coast to Syria. Closed since Dec. 6, 2024, following an Israeli strike that destroyed part of the roadway embankment, the crossing reopened Tuesday to the relief of travelers and taxi drivers on both sides of the border.Traffic is now rerouted through the exit lane, hastily covered with sand and gravel. “Trucks carrying goods still cannot pass. It wouldn’t hold. It’s only for passengers for now,” said a General Security officer stationed at the checkpoint.Syria’s Authority for Land and Maritime Ports had announced the reopening a day earlier, prompting praise from drivers who had been forced to use longer, inland detours via Joussieh-Qaa or Masnaa. Read a report from Syria At...
It’s 6:40 a.m. when about 10 cars begin lining up at the first General Security checkpoint outside the Arida border post, which connects northern Lebanon’s Akkar coast to Syria. Closed since Dec. 6, 2024, following an Israeli strike that destroyed part of the roadway embankment, the crossing reopened Tuesday to the relief of travelers and taxi drivers on both sides of the border.Traffic is now rerouted through the exit lane, hastily covered with sand and gravel. “Trucks carrying goods still cannot pass. It wouldn’t hold. It’s only for passengers for now,” said a General Security officer stationed at the checkpoint.Syria’s Authority for Land and Maritime Ports had announced the reopening a day earlier, prompting praise from drivers who had been forced to use longer, inland detours via Joussieh-Qaa or Masnaa. Read a report...