By boats and off-road vehicles: Lebanon fights infiltrators crossing on their way to Europe

Lebanon is grappling with a wave of human smuggling from Syria through its porous northern border. Some migrants seek work in the Land of the Cedars, while others try to reach Europe. The Lebanese army is working to curb the smuggling using boats and off-road vehicles, but struggles to control a long and complex border, alongside fears of militants infiltrating under cover.

Lebanon is facing a significant challenge of human smuggling from Syria through its porous northern border, a phenomenon that has returned to the headlines in recent weeks. The migrants, some seeking work in Lebanon and others on their way to Europe, are smuggled using off-road vehicles, buses, and boats. On September 24, a video was published on the Lebanese channel "Al-Jadeed" showing people crossing mountainous terrain in the Akkar region. On September 29, an accident occurred when a bus carrying 14 smuggled Syrians veered off the road in Galboun, killing one and injuring the rest. The cost of smuggling ranges from $150 to $200 per person, and the smugglers earn about $4,000 per trip. The Lebanese army, together with the navy, rescued 23 people from a boat that broke down off the coast of Tripoli on September 8. A security source emphasized that control over the land border poses a huge challenge, requiring cooperation with Syria. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called for providing resources to the army to expand state authority, including fighting terrorism and smuggling.