Several Lebanese nationals were denied entry into Syria at the Masnaa border crossing on Thursday, taken aback by strict conditions newly imposed by Syrian authorities.
A senior official from the Lebanese General Security (SG) stated to the local channel MTV on Friday that the department had not been informed of these new measures.
According to ministerial sources, This is Beirut learned that Damascus has indeed implemented new entry requirements for Lebanese nationals.
However, Lebanese authorities seemed unaware of when these measures would take effect.
No confirmation regarding the specifics of these requirements has been provided. The same source indicated that an investigation is underway to uncover the details and reasons behind the new regulations.
In this context, media outlets have reported on the alleged prerequisites for Lebanese seeking to enter Syria. These include providing proof of a hotel reservation in Syria, possessing $2,000 in cash, having a medical appointment (for those seeking treatment), securing sponsorship from a Syrian national or holding a valid Syrian residency permit. These conditions remain unverified.
According to the local channel Al-Jadeed, the decision could be a response to the Lebanese Army's recent arrest of members of the armed Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), who were reportedly managing operations at the border.
These individuals claimed they had mistakenly entered Lebanon while attempting to escort someone across the border.
Al-Jadeed, corroborated by the daily An-Nahar, also reported that those arrested were subjected to harsh treatment.
Their release was delayed for five hours, allegedly only occurring after HTS directly intervened with the Lebanese General Security.
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