The Lebanese Army deployed troops along the mountain passageways linking Syria to Lebanon in the Upper Hermel, erecting permanent military points and closing all illegal crossings. Security sources said army troops were deployed in northern Bekaa to thwart attempts to smuggle goods between Lebanon and Syria and to close illegal crossroads linking the two states. Dozens of tanks and trucks penetrated through rugged passages that were used for smuggling operations. Witnesses said they were surprised by the fact that no smuggling activities were seen during the deployment of the troops in the area, which used to represent a major location for transferring goods illegally across the borders on a daily basis. It was not clear if the move was part of the heavy security measures taken to preserve the country's security in light of the national dialogue conference being held in Beirut. As soon as the Lebanese Army units reached the borders, a Syrian security delegation arrived to the area to inspect the measures taken on the Lebanese side.