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Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said Friday that Lebanon was working to find a solution with Syria, after two security officials said Damascus had imposed new restrictions on the entry of Lebanese citizens.
“Work is underway to resolve the issue of Lebanese citizens being prevented from entering Syria,” Mawlawi told AFP.
He said Lebanon’s General Security agency was in touch with “the Syrian side” to resolve the issue.
The developments appeared to be the first instance of friction between the two neighbours, who share a fraught history, since Islamist-led rebels toppled longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad last month.
Lebanese nationals had previously been allowed into Syria without a visa, using just their passport or ID.
But a Lebanese General Security official told AFP on Friday that they were “surprised to see the border had been closed” to Lebanese citizens “from the Syrian side”.
The official, who like other sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said that no new border measures had been communicated to them yet.
A security source at Masnaa, the main land border crossing between the two countries, said Syrian authorities had implemented “new procedures” since the previous night, only allowing in Lebanese with residency permits or official permission.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s office later said he had a phone call with Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, during which they discussed bilateral relations as well as border skirmishes with the Lebanese army.
Sharaa also invited Mikati for an official visit to Syria.
The statement said Sharaa “confirmed that Syria’s relevant agencies have done all that is necessary to restore calm at the border and prevent the recurrence of what happened”.
