The Lebanese army on Wednesday (January 18th) closed illegal crossings on the Lebanese-Syrian border in the northern Beqaa Valley district of Hermel, Lebanon's Naharnet reported.
The army closed crossings near the towns of al-Qasr and Hosh Sayyed Ali amid tight security measures, with military units patrolling the area.
Security forces began removing make-shift bridges used to cross between Lebanon and Syria, Lebanon's Daily Star reported.
The closure of the crossings was the first step in an effort to block more illegal crossings suspected of being used for smuggling operations between the two countries, local media said.
During the security operation, army forces arrested four individuals of Syrian and Lebanese nationalities, a local radio station reported.
