The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said in a statement on Wednesday that the smuggling of Syrians into Lebanon is being carried out under the supervision of Hezbollah and the Fourth Division of the Syrian army.
Providing details from sources in the region, SOHR said that dozens of young people and families gather near the Talbiseh Bridge in the northern countryside of Homs before embarking on their journey to Lebanon with the help of smuggling networks that are “protected” by local authorities and militias.
According to the Observatory, security agencies and forces of the Fourth Division oversee human smuggling operations, with these networks being led by Hezbollah. It claimed that Hezbollah’s control over the crossing points between Syria and Lebanon, due to their presence on both sides, facilitates the movement of Syrians within Lebanon to reach their desired destinations.
The journey to Lebanon begins at the Talbiseh Bridge in Homs, follows routes in the western countryside of Homs via Talkalakh and the village of Rablah, leading to the Wadi Khaled area in Akkar district, Lebanon, which has long been known as an illegal crossing point between the two countries, the organization noted.
Furthermore, the “Syrian Observatory” emphasized that smugglers charge between $200 and $800 per person, guaranteeing their arrival in Lebanon. The amount depends on the method of crossing and the means of transportation used. It said that a portion of the fee goes to checkpoints of the regime’s forces and security agencies, while the larger portion goes to Hezbollah. Syrians who collaborate with the smugglers receive only nominal amounts.
The Observatory noted that Syrians are fleeing the economic hardships in their country in search of stability in Lebanon or to transit through it to other countries, including European Union countries, using various means such as riding “death boats” to reach Cyprus or the island of Sicily.
On Monday, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, called on Lebanese officials not to prevent Syrians, who wish to emigrate by sea, from leaving Lebanon, with the aim of exerting pressure on Europe and the international community.
