Over 130 land border crossings connect Syria with Lebanon. There are just six official border crossings. Three are on Lebanon’s eastern border with Syria (Al-Masnaa, Jusiyah, and Matraba), while three are on Lebanon’s northern border with Syria (Talkalakh, Al-Dabousieh, and Al-‘Arida). The majority of the dozens of unauthorized land crossings, that are entirely open with no checkpoints or oversight, are located along Syria’s eastern border, with a focus on the Bekaa Valley. Although Israel has attacked the three official eastern crossings in recent weeks in order to impede Hezbollah’s arms smuggling activity into Lebanon, the three northern crossings also have a high potential for similar activity.
What should Israel do militarily and politically?
Israel must continue to act to disrupt the Iranian arms corridor, with a focus on the routes leading into Lebanon by land, air, and sea. This entails interrupting Hezbollah’s oxygen pipeline. This must occur following a political accord and the culmination of the fighting in the northern arena. A political deal must include a system for efficient international supervision of the official crossings between Syria and Lebanon. It is obvious to us that such surveillance cannot be implemented at dozens of unofficial crossings. As a result, every agreement must include a statement that gives Israel permission to act against smuggling activities (damage through kinetic operations) and against those responsible for and aiding it (damage, international sanctions, etc.). The more effective anti-smuggling efforts are, the more effective “drying up” Hezbollah’s arsenals becomes.
Who is responsible for the official land border crossings between Syria and Lebanon?
On the Syrian side, the military security organization is responsible for the crossings (al-Istikhbarat al-Askariah/شعبة الاستخبارات العسكرية), whose commander is Liwa (Colonel) Kamal Hassan. It is also most likely that the Syrian General Security Organization (Adara’ al-Mukhabarat al-‘Amma), which is currently subservient to the National Security Council led by Halua (Maj. Gen.) Kafah Malham), is involved in the crossing activities.
On the Lebanese side, the Lebanese Directorate of General Security (Al-Madiyah al-Amma Lallaman al-Aam al-Labanani) is responsible for the Lebanese General Security Administration (المديرية العامة للامن العام اللبناني), which operates under the Lebanese Ministry of the Interior and was previously known as the First Office. The commander is Liwa (Colonel) Elias Albisseri. In addition, the Lebanese Army’s Intelligence Directorate (Madiriyah al-Mukhabarat) (مديرية المخابرات), formerly known as the Second Office, has influence over what takes place at official land border crossings. The Lebanese army’s intelligence department collaborates closely with Hezbollah.
Hezbollah’s Unit 4400 is a major factor in Hezbollah’s reinforcement of its power and reconstruction:
Hezbollah’s Unit 4400, whose last two commanders were eliminated by Israel, is in charge of smuggling through both official and unauthorized borders. The unit is in charge of physically smuggling weapons, essential equipment, money, and products to Hezbollah in Lebanon, including oil. Unit 4400 has direct communication with necessary personnel from the aforementioned governmental institutions. They assist it to smuggle across the crossings, if not out of ideological motivation, then frequently in exchange for payments and/or favors.
Why were Syrian military security compounds in Damascus attacked?
The Syrian military security compounds in the village of Susa in Damascus were the target of an airstrike on October 24, 2024. According to our assessment, this attack, which took place against the backdrop of the border crossings between Syria and Lebanon, aims to warn the Syrian security forces to cease their cooperation with Unit 4400, which facilitates the smuggling of weapons, equipment, money, and merchandise into Hezbollah’s hands in Lebanon.
We doubt that attacks on the facilities and compounds of the Syrian security organization, which oversees the crossings, will significantly impact the relevant officials within the Syrian security organizations stationed at the crossings. In our assessment, these officials will continue to cooperate independently with Hezbollah/Unit 4400 in exchange for bribes and/or favors. Hezbollah has exploited and will continue to exploit a portion of Lebanon’s civilian infrastructure for its military expansion. Hezbollah will continue to try to exploit the land crossings to replenish and rehabilitate its arsenal.
Following are details of the six official land crossings between Syria and Lebanon:
The crossings on Lebanon’s eastern border with Syria:
Al-Masnaa crossing:
It is considered the main land border crossing between Syria and Lebanon. It is situated between Jadida Yabus in the Damascus province and Lebanese Al- Masnaa. It is 40 km from Damascus and 100 km from Beirut. The Al- Masnaa crossing is the main land gate between the two countries, and a large movement of passengers and goods passes through it.
In light of the many disruptions of flights at Syrian airports, the Al- Masnaa crossing serves as a central transit station from Syria to Beirut International Airport. Beginning in 2011, with the outbreak of the civil war in Syria, the crossing also served as a central gateway for escape to Lebanon. Today it serves as a central gateway for escape in the opposite direction, from Lebanon to Syria.
For many years, Hezbollah has used the Al- Masnaa crossing as a central route for smuggling Iranian equipment and weapons, taking advantage of the high volume of civilian and commercial traffic that provides cover for this activity. Israel repeatedly attacked the access roads to the crossing during October 2024, resulting in the closure of the crossing to vehicular and truck traffic.
The Jusiyah crossing:
This crossing connects the town of Jusiyah, in the area of Qusayr, in the western part of Homs’ rural area in Syria, and the Al-Qaa area in Lebanon. A main road connects the two countries through this crossing. The Jusiyah crossing allows comfortable access from Lebanon to the city of Homs, which is an important commercial and administrative metropolis. People also used the crossing to smuggle food and fuel from Lebanon to areas under siege during the Syrian civil war.
After Syrian opposition forces took over the city of Qusayr at the end of 2012, they closed the crossing. In 2013, the Syrian regime, with Hezbollah’s support, managed to retake Qusayr, and the border crossing returned to its control. The crossing remained closed for about five years, during which Hezbollah used it as a military outpost and prevented commercial and civilian movement. Hezbollah turned the crossing into a major route for smuggling weapons and equipment. The crossing officially reopened in 2017. On October 24, the crossing was attacked by Israel.
Matraba Crossing:
In 2022, a new crossing opened, connecting the Al-Qusayr area in the southwestern rural area of Homs with the Hermel area in Lebanon. Among other things, the opening of the Matraba crossing aimed to boost trade and tourism between Syria and Lebanon. Since the start of the IDF’s fighting in Lebanon, there have been several attacks on the crossing. The most recent attack took place on October 26, 2024. The attack led to the closure of the crossing.
Crossings on Lebanon’s northern border with Syria:
Talkalakh Crossing:
Established in 2009, the crossing links the city of Talkalakh, situated in the western part of Homs Province, near the Lebanese border, with the mountainous rural Wadi Khaled area in northern Lebanon’s Akar Governorate. Wadi Khaled residents rely on the crossing for their daily needs from Syria, as it facilitates trade and transportation of fuel and agricultural materials. Large waves of Syrian refugees used it to cross during the Syrian civil war. Israel has not closed or attacked the crossing as of this writing.
Al Dabousieh Crossing:
The crossing opened in 2007 and is the second-most important between the two countries. The crossing connects the village of Dabousieh in the province of Akar in Lebanon with the village of Dabousieh in Homs province in Syria. The crossing plays an important role in the transfer of commercial goods between northern Lebanon and central and northern Syria. The crossing primarily handles food, fuel, and agricultural products. It is also a major corridor for residents of the border area, through which many students and workers in both countries pass daily. The crossing underwent several closures during the Syrian civil war, primarily during the siege of Homs. After the Syrian regime took control of the area, it reopened and underwent rehabilitation in May 2024. Israel has not closed or attacked the crossing as of this writing.
The Al-‘Arida crossing:
The crossing is located between the village of ‘Arida in the Akar Province in northern Lebanon and the Syrian province of Tartus. The crossing is a transit point for goods, especially those from Syrian ports in northwest Syria and the Lebanese port of Tripoli. The bulk of the goods are agricultural products, building materials, fuel, etc. The crossing served as a tourist traffic route between the two countries prior to the onset of the Syrian civil war.
During the civil war, the crossing served as a transit station for Syrian refugees to Lebanon. As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies in Lebanon, the crossing serves as a refuge for displaced Lebanese families who have fled north. Israel has not closed or attacked the crossing as of this writing.
