Lebanon Continues Blocking Syrian Trucks amid Stalled Talks

Lebanon’s refrigerated truck owners announced they will continue blocking Syrian trucks in both directions at the border, in response to Syria’s decision to ban Lebanese trucks from entering its territory.

The announcement comes as negotiations between Lebanese and Syrian officials remain at a standstill. The talks, held at the Jdeidet Al-Fsouq border crossing, involved Lebanon’s Director General of Land and Maritime Transport, Ahmed Tamer, along with relevant transport sector officials and a delegation from Syria’s Ministry of Transport. 

The discussions aimed to address the repercussions of Syria’s recent decision regulating truck movements, which specifically restricts Lebanese trucks from entering Syria while allowing transit for other countries under certain conditions.

According to reports, the Syrian delegation insisted the decision is final and non-negotiable, stressing that it is part of a broader regional policy affecting several Arab countries rather than targeting Lebanon specifically. They indicated that a new operational mechanism will be implemented in the future.

The move follows a protest that began Monday night, when Lebanese refrigerated truck drivers blocked the border area at the Masnaa–Jdeidet Yabous crossing, halting cross-border transport in both directions. The protest was triggered by Syria’s General Authority for Border Crossings and Customs decision to prevent non-Syrian trucks from entering its territory and unloading their cargo, requiring goods to be transshipped at the border. The decision exempts transit shipments.