News
Latest News
news bulletin
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Other News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Beirut
17
o
Bekaa
9
o
Keserwan
16
o
Metn
16
o
Mount Lebanon
12
o
North
15
o
South
15
o
Live
Video
Audio
Schedule
shows
العربية
watching now
Al Arbaji - Season 2
SUBSCRIBE
Home
Notification
Live
Video
Audio
shows
Beirut
17
o
Bekaa
9
o
Keserwan
16
o
Metn
16
o
Mount Lebanon
12
o
North
15
o
South
15
o
News
Programs
The News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Programs
Series
Movies
Documentaries
Variety
Comedy
Talk Show
News Bulletin
Sports
Breaking News
Latest News
Highlighted News
Most Read
Videos
العربية
Watch the latest programs and the latest developments on your favorite screen
Shows
Join millions of followers
Who We Are
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Careers
Channel frequencies
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
Smuggling-related violence erupts between Lebanon and Syria — The details
News Bulletin Reports
20-01-2025 | 14:07
High views
Share
Share
3
min
Smuggling-related violence erupts between Lebanon and Syria — The details
Report by Petra Abou Haydar, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian
At any moment, without warning, the situation on the Lebanon-Syria border could escalate due to smuggling. What occurred on Sunday between the Lebanese town of Qasr and the Syrian town of Al Qusayr was just a small rehearsal.
Smuggling, especially of oil derivatives, has been ongoing for years. Even with the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, this has not changed, as the economic blockade on Syria has not been fully lifted.
The only access point to some Syrian areas, particularly Damascus, Homs, and the Syrian coast, is Lebanon. Additionally, prices in Lebanon are nearly half as cheap, making it a very profitable business.
However, this is not the main issue. The real story is the conflicts arising from smuggling. Daily, reports emerge of clashes between smugglers from both the Syrian and Lebanese sides. The reasons are well known: theft of goods, whether money or smuggled items, along with associated kidnappings for ransom and other crimes.
On Sunday, the situation escalated. It was no longer just a matter of theft and abductions; it became closer to a small battle. A Syrian truck driver, working for a Lebanese smuggler and carrying smuggled gas, was stopped by a Syrian gang after entering Syria from the Lebanese town of Qasr, located on the northern Bekaa border.
The gang stole the goods, an additional $6,000, and kidnapped the driver.
This angered the smuggler on the Syrian side, as the Lebanese smuggler was supposed to secure the route. The Lebanese smuggler accused the Syrian smuggler of colluding with the gang to kidnap the driver in order to avoid paying for the goods.
Both sides opened fire on each other from their respective borders. Armed men from the Lebanese side of Qasr faced armed men from the Syrian town of Matrabah. The confrontations, which took place about a kilometer apart, involved assault rifles, medium-range weapons, and mortar shells specifically launched from the Syrian side.
Some relatives of the Lebanese smuggler, who are usually based in Matrabah, intervened. In return, Syrian gunmen entered the area and kidnapped a Lebanese woman, a relative of the Lebanese smuggler.
After the escalation, the Lebanese army intervened, with one soldier injured in the clashes. They managed to end the conflict for now after the gunmen from both sides fled. This conflict could easily reoccur at any moment if the border remains uncontrolled and smuggling continues without oversight.
Lebanon News
News Bulletin Reports
Lebanon
Syria
Smuggling
Violence
Clashes
Next
Road to recovery: Lebanese Army deployment in South Lebanon's Bint Jbeil fuels revival of life
Massive captagon bust in Lebanon targets Syria-linked traffickers — The details
Previous
Related Articles
d-none hideMe
0
News Bulletin Reports
2025-03-22
Violence erupts as Israeli violations hit 1,345, Lebanon rocket fire sparks new tensions — the details
News Bulletin Reports
2025-03-22
Violence erupts as Israeli violations hit 1,345, Lebanon rocket fire sparks new tensions — the details
0
News Bulletin Reports
2025-03-17
Fatal clashes on Lebanon-Syria border: Lebanese army responds to rising violence – what are the details?
News Bulletin Reports
2025-03-17
Fatal clashes on Lebanon-Syria border: Lebanese army responds to rising violence – what are the details?
0
News Bulletin Reports
2025-03-02
Netanyahu’s Jaramana strategy fuels concerns over Syria escalation and internal Israeli dissent — the details
News Bulletin Reports
2025-03-02
Netanyahu’s Jaramana strategy fuels concerns over Syria escalation and internal Israeli dissent — the details
0
News Bulletin Reports
2025-01-18
Fragile negotiations: Details emerge on Gaza ceasefire deal and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas
News Bulletin Reports
2025-01-18
Fragile negotiations: Details emerge on Gaza ceasefire deal and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas
Recommended For You
d-none hideMe
0
News Bulletin Reports
13:20
Key questions loom ahead of US envoy Morgan Ortagus' Beirut visit: Will Hezbollah's disarmament be discussed?
News Bulletin Reports
13:20
Key questions loom ahead of US envoy Morgan Ortagus' Beirut visit: Will Hezbollah's disarmament be discussed?
0
News Bulletin Reports
13:18
French ruling lifts asset freezes on former central bank governor Riad Salameh
News Bulletin Reports
13:18
French ruling lifts asset freezes on former central bank governor Riad Salameh
0
News Bulletin Reports
13:13
Council for Development and Reconstruction: Lebanon's rebuilding efforts and the rise of unchecked power
News Bulletin Reports
13:13
Council for Development and Reconstruction: Lebanon's rebuilding efforts and the rise of unchecked power
0
News Bulletin Reports
13:08
Lebanon hit with new US tariffs: Will it affect trade?
News Bulletin Reports
13:08
Lebanon hit with new US tariffs: Will it affect trade?
Subscribe to our VOD
SUBSCRIBE
Our visitors readings
d-none hideMe
0
Lebanon Economy
2025-03-12
IMF delegation in Beirut for financial reform talks, meetings with Lebanese officials planned
Lebanon Economy
2025-03-12
IMF delegation in Beirut for financial reform talks, meetings with Lebanese officials planned
0
Lebanon News
10:13
Lebanon declares public holidays for Good Friday and Easter Monday
Lebanon News
10:13
Lebanon declares public holidays for Good Friday and Easter Monday
0
Lebanon News
2025-03-12
Lebanon's finance minister issues decision to reduce tax fines
Lebanon News
2025-03-12
Lebanon's finance minister issues decision to reduce tax fines
0
Lebanon News
2025-01-08
LBCI documents scenes of destruction in Naqoura and Aalma in South Lebanon
Lebanon News
2025-01-08
LBCI documents scenes of destruction in Naqoura and Aalma in South Lebanon
Videos
d-none hideMe
0
Lebanon News
2025-03-23
LBCI's Pierre El Daher bids farewell to Hoda Chedid: You will always be our guiding light
Lebanon News
2025-03-23
LBCI's Pierre El Daher bids farewell to Hoda Chedid: You will always be our guiding light
0
Middle East News
2025-03-19
Israeli official urges international support for Lebanese government and army
Middle East News
2025-03-19
Israeli official urges international support for Lebanese government and army
0
Lebanon News
2025-02-23
Israeli aircraft fly at low altitude over Beirut during Hezbollah's former leaders funeral
Lebanon News
2025-02-23
Israeli aircraft fly at low altitude over Beirut during Hezbollah's former leaders funeral
0
Lebanon News
2025-02-23
Coffins of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine enter Sports City Stadium (Video)
Lebanon News
2025-02-23
Coffins of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine enter Sports City Stadium (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2025-02-23
Tens of thousands gather at Sports City Stadium for farewell to Hezbollah’s former leader Nasrallah (Video)
Lebanon News
2025-02-23
Tens of thousands gather at Sports City Stadium for farewell to Hezbollah’s former leader Nasrallah (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2025-02-14
Ahmad Hariri to LBCI: Future Movement returns to political arena to participate in all upcoming political events
Lebanon News
2025-02-14
Ahmad Hariri to LBCI: Future Movement returns to political arena to participate in all upcoming political events
0
Lebanon News
2025-02-13
Saad Hariri holds series of diplomatic and religious meetings in Beirut
Lebanon News
2025-02-13
Saad Hariri holds series of diplomatic and religious meetings in Beirut
0
Lebanon News
2025-02-13
LBCI monitors removal of barriers and barbed wire in Downtown Beirut
Lebanon News
2025-02-13
LBCI monitors removal of barriers and barbed wire in Downtown Beirut
0
Lebanon News
2025-02-10
Armed robbery in Beirut's Hamra turns deadly as shop owner shoots fleeing robbers (Video)
Lebanon News
2025-02-10
Armed robbery in Beirut's Hamra turns deadly as shop owner shoots fleeing robbers (Video)
Most read
d-none hideMe
24 hours
7 days
Month
1
News Bulletin Reports
13:08
Lebanon hit with new US tariffs: Will it affect trade?
News Bulletin Reports
13:08
Lebanon hit with new US tariffs: Will it affect trade?
2
Lebanon News
03:29
Israeli drone strike targets car in southern Lebanon, injures two
Lebanon News
03:29
Israeli drone strike targets car in southern Lebanon, injures two
3
Lebanon News
10:31
Israel targets alleged Hezbollah member in southern Lebanon, army spokesperson claims
Lebanon News
10:31
Israel targets alleged Hezbollah member in southern Lebanon, army spokesperson claims
4
News Bulletin Reports
13:20
Key questions loom ahead of US envoy Morgan Ortagus' Beirut visit: Will Hezbollah's disarmament be discussed?
News Bulletin Reports
13:20
Key questions loom ahead of US envoy Morgan Ortagus' Beirut visit: Will Hezbollah's disarmament be discussed?
5
Lebanon News
06:02
Israeli FM says ongoing negotiations on borders with Lebanon and detained prisoners
Lebanon News
06:02
Israeli FM says ongoing negotiations on borders with Lebanon and detained prisoners
6
Lebanon News
12:22
Hezbollah urges regional unity against ongoing conflicts in the Middle East — statement
Lebanon News
12:22
Hezbollah urges regional unity against ongoing conflicts in the Middle East — statement
7
Lebanon News
07:13
Patriarch al-Rahi calls for national conference, assures no fear of conflict between Army and Hezbollah
Lebanon News
07:13
Patriarch al-Rahi calls for national conference, assures no fear of conflict between Army and Hezbollah
8
Lebanon News
11:22
Lebanon issues decrees on new security appointments — the details
Lebanon News
11:22
Lebanon issues decrees on new security appointments — the details
Download now the LBCI mobile app
To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world
Google Play
App Store
We use
cookies
We use
cookies
to make
your experience on this
website better.
Accept
Learn More