Trending 
Lebanon announced the reopening of the Masnaa border crossing with Syria on Wednesday evening, state media reported, after it had been closed for several days due to an Israeli threat.
“The Masnaa crossing will be reopened as of 6:00 pm (1500 GMT) today, with strict measures in place to ensure the safety of passenger and cargo traffic, and equipped with the necessary tools to prevent any smuggling operations,” the state-run National News Agency (NNA) said.
An informed Lebanese government source told AFP that “intensive efforts were made by both Lebanon and Syria to spare the crossing from the Israeli strike”.
Israel had threatened on Saturday to target the crossing, accusing Hezbollah of using it “for military purposes and smuggling of combat equipment”, but ultimately did not carry out the strike.
The Masnaa crossing, the main gateway between Lebanon and Syria, is a vital trade route for both countries and Lebanon’s principal overland link to the wider region.
The reopening comes amid continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, even as Israel supports a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States.
