Lebanese army warns of upcoming challenges on border with Syria

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Commander of the Lebanese army, Joseph Aoun, said on Friday their forces are exerting all efforts to prevent smuggling and illegal displacement on the Syrian-Lebanese border, warning of “the worst soon.”

The Lebanese army stated citing Aoun as saying, at a ceremony in the Juroud Arsal region, northeast of the country, that the deployment of their forces along the border is “not without challenges, including the rugged geographical terrain and various resource limitations.”

Aoun focused on the difficulties on the Syrian-Lebanese border. “I invite every skeptic to visit the border and witness firsthand the situation that warns of impending challenges,” he said.

Minister of State for Displaced Persons in the Lebanese caretaker government, Issam Sharaf al-Din, said in separate event, that the “illegal” crossing of the border from Syria is a “large-scale” economic displacement.

The Lebanese army stated on Sep. 7, that their forces prevented 1,200 Syrians from crossing the border into Lebanon.

At a time when states focused on finding a solution for Syrian refugees to return to their country following Syria’s re-admittance to the Arab League, Lebanon is witnessing a new wave of displacement across the border.

Lebanese authorities tightened the restrictions on Syrian asylum-seekers, as the country is witnessing an unprecedented economic and political crisis that sparked demands for the deportation of Syrians.

Lebanon has already put in effect a plan to deport 15,000 individuals per month. Meanwhile the UN rejected this resolution considering Syria is still an unsafe state.

Lebanon is home to roughly two million Syrians who fled from the violence of Syria’s civil war. Since the beginning of April, the Lebanese Armed Forces have forcefully deported hundreds, including some of the around 800,000 Syrians that are under UNHCR protection.

Most of the migrants to Lebanon aspire to head across its coast to western countries.

So far, about 8,000 Syrians have been arrested for trying to enter Lebanese territory illegally, and there are many others who entered without knowing their numbers, according to Sharaf al-Din.

By Hozan Zubeir