Israeli air strikes destroy border crossings between Lebanon and Syria

A group of refugees fleeing Lebanon into Syria crossed a narrow makeshift bridge on foot yesterday in the Qusayr area of Homs province in Syria, after the official border crossing was put out of service by an Israeli air strike two days earlier. There are now only three functioning crossings left between the two countries, which share a 375-kilometre (233-mile) border.

In late September, an Israeli air strike targeted the Matraba border crossing in north-east Lebanon, forcing it to close. A few weeks later, the main crossing between the two countries, Masnaa, was hit by an air strike, putting it out of service. Israel bombed the Jousieh crossing on Friday.

The Israeli occupation army claims that Hezbollah uses the crossings to transfer weapons and military equipment from Syria to Lebanon. However, humanitarian aid officials say that the closure of the crossings has intensified the already severe humanitarian crisis, as it has caused the closure of main aid supply routes and hindered access for people fleeing to safety.

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