Syria Imposes Food Blockade on Lebanon

 
Syria has imposed a blockade of food supplies on Lebanon, the daily An Nahar reported Tuesday.

 

The report, citing information received by Lebanese authorities, said Syrian customs authorities circulated to all border checkpoints their decision to prevent trucks and vehicles carrying food supplies from crossing Lebanon as of 6 p.m. Monday.

 

An Nahar said Lebanese authorities had no “explanation to Damascus” surprise decision,” but hinted that the siege coincided with Monday nights” protests in Beirut.

 

Long convoys of cargo trucks queued at the Abboudieh-Dabbousieh northern border crossing between Lebanon and Syria on Jan. 11 after Syrian authorities launched strict inspection procedures.

 

The crisis worsened the following day with the number of stranded trucks reaching 200 as Syrian security and customs authorities kicked off a campaign of heavy inspection of cargo headed to Syria.

 

A source at the public works and transportation ministry said at the time that there was “no border crisis with Syria” and that heavy inspection procedures “will gradually be reduced so that the situation goes to normal in the next few hours.”