After Israeli threats, Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria finally reopens

BEIRUT — The Masnaa border crossing, one of the main legal entry points between Syria and Lebanon, reopened Thursday after being closed due to Israeli strike threats linked to the war between Israel and Hezbollah since March 2.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA)'s correspondent in the Bekaa confirmed that the crossing had reopened in line with announcements by Lebanese and Syrian authorities, and that traffic had returned to normal levels.

On Wednesday, the Lebanese Cabinet announced that the Masnaa crossing (Bekaa), on the border with Syria, would reopen at 6 p.m.

On Thursday morning, Mazen Allouche, director of local and international relations at Syria’s General Authority for Land and Maritime Ports, said on X that the Jdeidet Yabous crossing — the Syrian side of the border post — had also reopened, with normal traffic resuming as of April 9, after the risks that had prompted the temporary suspension of operations in recent days subsided.

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"The Authority confirms that the post will continue to provide its services to travelers in accordance with the applicable civil and legal frameworks, 24 hours a day, while taking all necessary organizational measures to ensure the safety of passengers and secure smooth movement in and out. It also calls on all travelers to respect the instructions issued by the border post administration, to facilitate procedures and ensure smooth operations," the official added.

Lebanese Customs said its inspectors will be on duty Saturday and next Monday—the latter a public holiday for Orthodox Easter—“to speed up procedures at the ports of Beirut and Tripoli, Beirut International Airport, and the Masnaa border crossing.” The Ministry of Public Works confirmed the measure, taken in coordination with Customs, to “ensure the continuity of maritime and cargo traffic and safeguard market supply.”

Although the volume and value of goods transiting through Masnaa remain limited compared with the ports of Beirut and Tripoli and the airport, the crossing remains a key route for trade between Lebanon and Syria—especially as several other border posts are currently closed for various reasons.