Israeli Strikes Disable Important Border Crossing Between Lebanon, Syria

The Jousieh border crossing plays a crucial role in the movement of people between Lebanon and Syria, especially in times of crisis.

Located in Syria's Homs province, it serves as one of only six official crossings between the two nations along their 375-kilometer border. With most crossings rendered inoperable due to Israeli airstrikes, Jousieh is one of the few lifelines for civilians displaced by conflict.

During the recent ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, the crossing witnessed a massive influx of Lebanese citizens returning home after 14 months of war.

Thousands of vehicles packed with families, belongings, and supplies lined up to cross back into Lebanon, illustrating its significance as a gateway for those fleeing violence or seeking to return to rebuild their lives.

The crossing also underscores the complex relationship between Lebanon and Syria, where roles of host and refuge-seeker have reversed due to conflicts. While Lebanon has housed over a million Syrian refugees since 2011, the Jousieh crossing facilitated the exodus of over 600,000 Lebanese into Syria during the war.

The return of these displaced individuals symbolizes hope and recovery amid the devastation but also highlights the logistical and emotional challenges of rebuilding lives post-conflict.

The attack marks the second such strike on the crossing since the establishment of a ceasefire, according to Lebanon's Al Mayadeen news network.

The ceasefire, mediated by countries including the United States and France, came into effect on November 28.

However, Israeli forces have repeatedly violated the agreement, continuing a pattern of non-compliance with similar truce arrangements in the past.

Both the US and France have acknowledged Israel's violations and warned of the potential collapse of the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon.