The Bekaa valley in Lebanon is a hotspot for smuggling, with informal trails leading endlessly between Syria and Lebanon. The remote village of Qasr illustrates how porous the border is, with minimal Lebanese state presence. Historically, smuggling of weapons, drugs, and fuel has thrived, benefiting both Assad's Syria and Hezbollah. However, recent military confrontations following the ousting of Assad have prompted both nations to strengthen their border controls, resulting in violent incidents and a disruption of the long-standing smuggling trade.
"In the remote Lebanese village of Qasr, borders are just a suggestion. The town sits a stone's throw from Syria and save for three soldiers manning an army checkpoint at the entry to the village, the presence of the Lebanese state is minimal."
"Authorities in Assad's Syria profited from the flow of weapons, drugs and fuel over the border, and its ally in Lebanon, the Iran-backed Shia militia Hezbollah, relied on routes used by smugglers to receive weapons coming from Iran."
"The attempt to seal the porous border has disrupted the decades long smuggling trade between Syria and Lebanon and has turned local tensions into deadly international military incidents."
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