Caretaker Minister of Interior Judge Bassam Mawlawi affirmed on Tuesday that “no security personnel from the former Syrian regime have entered Lebanon, and the regulations applied at official border crossings are strict.”
“Our standards are that anyone wanted for a crime in Lebanon or abroad will be arrested and will not be allowed to enter Lebanon,” he added. The Interior Minister confirmed that the Ministry and all security agencies fully communicate and coordinate with the government.
Following a meeting of the Central Internal Security Council to follow up on the security situation in Lebanon and the measures taken at border crossings, Mawlawi pointed out that he does not see any concerning movements toward Lebanon. “All security agencies are continuing their work and reinforcements are in place on the border to prevent any developments that might affect Lebanon’s internal situation,” he stated.
He also pointed out that Lebanese citizens can return from Syria, while for Syrians, strict instructions are being implemented by the Lebanese General Security.
“We expected more Syrians to exit through land routes, but we anticipate even more in the coming days. The situation is on the right track, and the illegal crossings are closed and under the army's control,” Mawlawi said, announcing that “a security checkpoint for the army and General Security would be added at the Masnaa crossing.”
Regarding the arrival of Lebanese detainees to Lebanese territory, he revealed that “nine of the Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons have arrived in Lebanon.”
These reactions came after a headline in a local Lebanese media stating that officials from the Syrian regime had crossed the border from Syria to Lebanon and were currently in the Phoenicia and Movenpick hotels in Beirut, as well as in Beirut’s southern suburbs. The news raised concerns in Lebanon about outlaws who, for generations, have been a threat to both Lebanon and the Lebanese people, with their close alliances in the country serving as a guarantee for them to act with impunity.
To topple these claims, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati stated, “In clarification of what has been circulating about the entry or transit of some former Syrian officials to other countries via Lebanon, the Lebanese government’s policy has always been to adhere to Lebanese and international laws. This approach has been followed throughout the previous period when Lebanon hosted hundreds of thousands of Syrian brothers.”
He claimed to be “closely following this matter” and has made intensive contacts with Minister of Justice Henry Khoury, Prosecutor General Judge Jamal al-Hajjar, and Acting General Director of General Security Major General Elias Baissari.
The statement said that he has given instructions to ensure that this matter “is handled in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations, under the supervision of the competent judiciary, and in a manner that safeguards Lebanon’s interests, the Lebanese people, and the future of relations with the Syrian people.”
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