clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Lebanon, Syria reopen border crossing after five years

December 15, 2017 at 1:44 pm

The Qaa crossing along the Lebanon-Syria border

Lebanon and Syria opened the Qaa border crossing yesterday after it has been closed for five-years.

A ceremony was held in the town of Qaa, east of Lebanon, to celebrate the reopening. It was attended by the Lebanese Director of Public Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, and the Syrian regime’s Interior Minister, Major General Mohammad Al-Sha’ar.

Ibrahim said the crossing will go into operation today.

“Lebanon distances itself from political issues, but security coordination did not stop between the two countries and Lebanon benefited a lot from this coordination,” Ibrahim said.

Read: US to provide $120m in military aid to Lebanon

Speaking on behalf of the Syrian side, General Shaar said: “We support everything that serves the natural relationship and context between Lebanon and Syria, and there are no obstacles for anyone who wants to return to Syria.”

Meanwhile, Lebanese MP, Nawar Al-Saheli, told reporters that reopening the border is “a first step towards helping the displaced people return to Syria”.

The border crossing was closed in 2012 after armed groups affiliated with Jabhat An-Nusra gained control of the town of Jousiyeh where the border crossing is located.