A stream of refugees fleeing Lebanon to Syria crossed a narrow makeshift bridge on foot Sunday in the Qusair area of Syria’s Homs province after the official border crossing was put out of commission by an Israeli strike two days earlier. This incident has left only three functioning crossings between the two countries, which share a border 375 kilometers long.
In late September, an Israeli airstrike hit the border crossing of Matraba in Lebanon’s northeast, forcing it to close. A few weeks later, a strike on Masnaa, the main crossing between the two countries, also put it out of service. The Jousieh crossing was the latest to be struck on Friday.
The Israeli military has accused the Hezbollah militant group of using the crossings to move weapons and military equipment from Syria to Lebanon. However, humanitarian officials have raised concerns that the closure of these crossings has exacerbated an already severe humanitarian crisis by blocking key routes for supplies and impeding access for those fleeing to safety.
According to the United Nations refugee agency, around 430,000 people have crossed from Lebanon into Syria over the past month since Israel launched a major aerial bombardment and ground invasion of Lebanon as part of its push against Hezbollah. Lebanese officials estimate the number to be even higher, exceeding half a million people.
Rula Amin, a spokesperson for the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, expressed worry over the damage to the crossings, emphasizing their importance as a main lifeline for people escaping the conflict. The recent strikes have caused significant disruptions, including the destruction of a bridge over the Orontes River, which has severed access to vital agricultural areas and isolated communities dependent on cross-river trade and travel.
Local residents, such as Yahya Abu Youssef, have described the strikes as inhumane, highlighting the injuries to children and livestock in the vicinity. The damage to the bridge has forced villagers to travel an additional 10 kilometers to reach the city of Homs, impacting their daily lives and livelihoods.
