A man walks near the closed Lebanese-Syrian border checkpoint amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, as the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran continues, near Masnaa, Lebanon, April 5, 2026. (Credit: Mohamed Azakir/ Reuters)
BEIRUT — The Director General of General Security, Hassan Choucair, visiting the Masnaa border crossing on Monday — the most important crossing point between Lebanon and Syria — denied Israeli allegations that the crossing is being used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons, two days after threats of airstrikes, which have so far not been carried out.
In a statement released Tuesday, Gen. Choucair stressed the need to "protect the lives of the agents at the Masnaa border crossing and to safeguard its equipment."
General Security is responsible for procedures related to entry into and exit from Lebanese territory and therefore has offices in the border crossing buildings.
During his visit on Monday, Choucair reiterated that "the border crossing is legal and cannot be used for arms smuggling," specifying that "all trucks and vehicles are subject to thorough inspection procedures." He also dismissed as "unfounded allegations the rumors circulating about smuggling operations" in comments published on X.
Choucair's visit to Masnaa comes two days after an order from the Israeli army to evacuate the area before a bombing, issued Saturday evening, and while the Israeli army has still not carried out its threat to strike the road crossing the Syrian-Lebanese border. The Israeli press reported that the United States had made such a request to Israel.
The head of the General Security Directorate (GSD) asserted that the Lebanese government is currently in contact with international bodies, particularly Egypt, to prevent the bombing of the border crossing, as is the Syrian government, which is also working to prevent the strike in order to reopen the crossing.
