A temporary Lebanese-Syrian agreement was reached on Thursday to restore normal truck traffic through the Masnaa border crossing for one week, until February 20, 2026, following days of disruption and protests.
The understanding was concluded during a joint meeting between Lebanese and Syrian delegations at the Lebanese Customs Center in the al-Masnaa border region. The talks brought together representatives of the relevant official administrations, as well as syndicates and unions from both sides. Participants agreed to implement a transitional regulatory mechanism based on the principle of reciprocity, meaning that each side grants the other the same rights and treatment.
The move follows three consecutive days of protests by the Refrigerated Trucks Syndicate, which led to the suspension of truck transit to and from Lebanon at the Masnaa crossing, compounding losses in the transport sector.
Under the temporary mechanism, Lebanese trucks will be permitted to enter Syrian customs yards to unload their cargo before returning to Lebanon carrying Syrian goods. The same arrangement will apply to Syrian trucks entering Lebanese territory during the agreement’s duration.
The agreement also allows Lebanese and Syrian trucks that were stranded between the two borders at the time of the meeting to enter on a one-time basis. These trucks must leave empty after unloading and the measure will not set a precedent or create any acquired rights beyond the specified period.
In addition, both sides emphasized that direct communication channels between the competent authorities will remain open to address any operational challenges during implementation.
Pending agreement on a permanent framework, the temporary arrangement is expected to ease trade and transportation flows between Lebanon and Syria after days of halted transit and mounting economic losses.
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