The General Authority for Land and Sea Ports in Syria announced that the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing with Lebanon is on full alert, with additional staff deployed to facilitate the passage of Syrians residing in Lebanon, amid recent security developments in the region.
In a statement issued today, Tuesday, March 3, the authority said that the Jdeidet Yabous crossing, located west of Damascus near the Lebanese border, and the al-Jousieh crossing in Homs countryside received around 11,000 travelers on Monday, the majority of them Syrians returning to their country.
The authority added that personnel at both crossings provided all necessary facilities and services, organizing the movement of travelers to ensure swift procedures and the safety of those crossing, amid ongoing readiness and full mobilization to keep pace with the rising number of arrivals.
According to the authority, the crossing has been operating 24/7 since Monday. Field teams are organizing the entry of families and providing necessary assistance, including first aid services through the medical point at the crossing to handle emergency health cases.
On Monday, March 2, the Lebanese-Syrian border witnessed heavy congestion, with hundreds of Syrian and Lebanese families waiting to enter Syrian territory, amid growing fears that Israeli military operations could expand into new areas in Lebanon.
Drivers operating on the Beirut-Damascus route told Enab Baladi that gatherings at the border included Lebanese families fleeing areas of escalation, alongside Syrian families residing in Lebanon who decided to return. They noted that strict security screening measures were in place and reported cases in which some Lebanese travelers heading to Syria were denied entry.
No New Measures for Lebanese Entry
For his part, the Director of Public Relations at the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports, Mazen Alloush, said that movement through the Jdeidet Yabous and al-Jousieh crossings is proceeding normally.
Alloush stressed that there are no new exceptional measures regarding the entry of Lebanese nationals, meaning that previously applied legal conditions and regulations remain in effect. These include:
- Residency: Lebanese citizens must hold valid Syrian residency.
- Family ties: The husband of a Syrian woman or the wife of a Syrian man, as well as the children of Syrian women, are permitted entry.
- Official approvals: A prior written approval from the Ministry of Interior or the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports is required.
- Sponsorship: An “entry telegram” is subject to administrative procedures that require a Syrian sponsor, similar to restrictions previously imposed by Lebanon on the entry of Syrians.
Israeli Escalation in Lebanon
The developments come after the Israeli army launched intensive airstrikes on Monday morning targeting Beirut’s southern suburbs and areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, killing 31 people and injuring 149 others, according to a preliminary toll.
The Israeli escalation followed an attack by Lebanon’s Hezbollah on an area south of the city of Haifa using drones and rockets, which the group said was in retaliation “for the blood of Imam Khamenei.”
This marks the first attack carried out by Hezbollah since the ceasefire agreement came into effect in November 2024.
As bombardment intensified and Israeli warnings continued, the Israeli army issued urgent evacuation notices for more than 50 villages in southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley, calling on residents to leave their homes immediately and move at least 1,000 meters away from areas of tension. The warnings deepened panic among civilians and prompted hundreds to flee.
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