MASNAA, Lebanon - Hundreds of Lebanese truckers ferrying agricultural goods are being held for days at the Syrian border, bringing huge losses to farmers, Lebanese agricultural unions and truckers said on Monday.
In the latest sign of growing tension between Syria and Lebanon since Damascus ended its 29-year military presence here in April, some 500 trucks, most of them carrying vegetables from the Bekaa Valley for export to Arab countries, have been stranded for days at Syrian border checkpoints.
Lebanese agricultural syndicates are estimating losses of $300,000 per day since Syrian customs officials began security inspections of Lebanese trucks more than two weeks ago. Damascus, which pulled its troops from its tiny neighbour under Lebanese and international pressure, said the inspections are needed to prevent weapons from entering the country.
| Won't work, the Syrian Kurds get all their weapons from ... oh, shouldn't talk about that, now should we? |
âThe situation is extremely dangerous because Lebanon exports all of its products through Syria to other Arab countries, especially to the Gulf region,â Waddah Fakri, head of the Southern Farmers Association told the Daily Star daily.
| Remind me, Lebanon sits on a body of water and has a port or two, right? |
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