Israel paused plans to strike a key Lebanon-Syria border crossing after both countries urged the U.S. to keep the route open, a Lebanese source told Reuters Tuesday.
The Israeli military had warned on April 4 that it would target the Masnaa crossing, the main land border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, “in the near future,” alleging that the Iran aligned proxy group Hezbollah was using it to smuggle weapons.
The crossing has also served as a vital route for civilians fleeing the expanding conflict in Lebanon, where nearly 1,500 people have been killed since early March in Israeli strikes and military operations. Hezbollah has continued to fire rockets and drones into Israel while engaging Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
Following Israel’s warning, Syrian authorities denied the crossing was being used for military purposes and said it would be temporarily closed to avoid civilian casualties.
Lebanese officials also confirmed that talks were underway to prevent a strike. According to the Lebanese source, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam worked with Syrian counterparts and secured a U.S. guarantee that the Masnaa crossing would not be hit. The crossing remains closed for now.
Israel has not officially confirmed whether it has abandoned its plans. However, Israeli public broadcaster Kan News reported that Washington had asked Israel to suspend the attack for political reasons.
The apparent pause underscores both the strategic sensitivity of alleged Hezbollah supply routes and the continued role of the United States in attempting to contain escalation, even as the broader conflict shows no signs of easing.
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