Lebanon-Syria: New Israeli strike on border post- Destruction of humanitarian aid structures –

The Al Ka ​​Jusia crossing point between Lebanon and Syria was targeted today by the Israeli army. It is the second such bombing in almost a week, with a UN official speaking of strikes on humanitarian aid structures.

This particular crossing point, which was first targeted on October 25 and became crucial for the passage of refugees fleeing the war in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, was hit again by the Syrian side in the early hours of this morning.

“A new Israeli raid has hit the Jusiya crossing point, through which many Lebanese and Syrians cross from Lebanon to Syria,” said United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi in a message on Platform X.

“Humanitarian aid structures were also affected. “Fleeing has become difficult and dangerous (as has caring for those fleeing) as the war continues to spread,” he said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an NGO based in Britain but with a large network of sources in Syria, confirmed that two Israeli strikes hit the crossing from the Syrian side.

The first Israeli strike in late October led to a 90% reduction in traffic at the crossing.

The escalation of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel since September 23 has prompted more than 500,000 people, mostly Syrians, to flee Lebanon to seek refuge in Syria, according to Lebanese authorities.

The Israeli air force had already carried out a raid on October 4 in eastern Lebanon near the Masna crossing point with Syria, cutting the main road between the two countries.

Lebanon and Syria are connected by six crossing points. However, there are also dozens of illegal crossings and informal routes that cross the long, porous border.

The crossing points in central Syria’s Homs province – where Jusiya is located – are not far from the city of al-Qusair, considered an important zone of influence for Hezbollah, which intervened in the war in Syria to support Bashar al-Assad’s forces.

Confirming on October 25 the bombing of “infrastructure of the border post” Al Ka ​​Jusiya, an Israeli military spokesman said that Hezbollah was “planning to transport weapons through the crossing point”.

Since September 23, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 1,900 people, according to an AFP tally based on data from Lebanon’s health ministry.

RES/EMP