Israel Bombs Civilian Crossing Between Lebanon and Syria

People cross through the rubble left by Israeli shelling at the Masnaa border crossing. Oct. 4, 2024. X/ @RazanIRL

October 4, 2024 Hour: 11:11 am

The Israeli army also carried out airstrikes on the Bekaa Valley and the Baalbek-Hermel area.

In the early hours of Friday, the Israeli army attacked the Masnaa border crossing, one of the main transit routes between Lebanon and Syria.

Israeli fighter jets launched two missiles that halted traffic in both directions on the road between Masnaa and Jdeidet Yabous. Lebanon’s Public Works Minister, Ali Hamieh, confirmed the incident at this border crossing, which allows thousands of people to flee the war in search of refuge in other countries.

“Families are now forced to cross on foot, scrambling over rubble and through a 4-meter crater. More than 300,000 people have fled from Lebanon to Syria recently,” journalist Razan Ibraheem posted on X.

In addition to the bombings at the border, Israel carried out airstrikes on the Bekaa Valley and the Baalbek-Hermel area, affecting towns such as Buday, Shmustar, Hosh Safiya, and Nabi Sheet. In these areas, missiles struck businesses and civilian homes, worsening the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.

Israeli airstrikes overnight left two huge craters on either side of the road leading to busy Masnaa Border Crossing, preventing vehicle passage. This border point has been a critical route for tens of thousands fleeing the conflict in Lebanon into Syria. pic.twitter.com/cRI41F46LV
— RT (@RT_com) October 4, 2024

The attacks also extended to the southern suburbs of Beirut, where penetrating bombs caused the collapse of buildings and key infrastructure. Among the affected locations were the Mreijeh stadium, a police station, the local municipality, and several businesses.

The nightly bombings were particularly loud in the vicinity of Mreijeh, the Hadi Nasrallah Highway, and the surrounding areas of Hadath. This attack took place in the same area where Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed during a bombing last week.

Since October 2023, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have left 9,384 people injured and 1,974 dead, including 127 children and 261 women, according to the latest report from the Lebanese Health Ministry.