By Nohad Topalian | 2024-09-02

BEIRUT -- Hizbullah continues to move trucks and fighters between Lebanon and Syria through illegal crossings such as Hosh al-Sayyed Ali on the outskirts of the northeastern town of Hermel and the Matraba border crossing near al-Qasr.

Hosh al-Sayyed Ali and Matraba are hubs for Hizbullah smuggling operations and the movement of people between Lebanon and Syria, despite the "official" presence of Syrian regime forces at Matraba, according to local activists.

This section of the border is of strategic importance to Hizbullah as it is in direct proximity to the Lebanese border town of al-Qasr and village of Matraba, and to al-Qusayr in Syria's Homs province, Bekaa Valley activist "Hamad" told Al-Fassel.

There are illegal crossings between the two countries, Hamad said, using a pseudonym because of the sensitivity of the situation.

The most dangerous smuggling crossings are located in the "triangle of Hosh al-Sayyed Ali, Matraba and al-Qasr," he noted.

Hosh al-Sayyed Ali crossing "extends into Syrian territory, with a small water channel separating the Lebanese and Syrian sides," he explained.

"There are small bridges in this area and other large ones that Hizbullah built to smuggle diesel tankers and goods in collusion with the 4th Division of the Syrian army," he said.

Hizbullah controls crossings

Hosh al-Sayyed Ali crossing is a strategic supply point for bringing in fuel tankers, goods and people, which continue to pass through 4th Division checkpoints without obstruction, with cover from Hizbullah, Hamad said.

Hizbullah's crossing in Hosh al-Sayyed is an "independent entity, and like Matraba, is difficult for the authorities to control because [Hizbullah] controls both of them," he said.

"The party relies on the Matraba crossing primarily for the passage of its trucks and fighters from Syria to Lebanon, and it operates at the crossing with complete impunity under the eyes of the Syrian regime army," he said.

Hizbullah "did not for a moment stop the smuggling of oil tankers from Syria to Lebanon," Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdul Rahman told Al-Fassel.

Abdul Rahman said the presence of Syrian regime soldiers at the crossings is "for appearance only, while actual control is by Hizbullah, which brings in trucks, and no one knows what cargo, people or fighters they contain."

He noted the location of the Matraba crossing "in the countryside of al-Qusayr, which is controlled by Hizbullah," adding that the Iran-backed party "controls all levers of the border area as it pleases, and smuggles whatever it wants."