Arida Crossing Closed over Assault Damages

The General Security Department announced on Monday the closure of al-Arida border crossing in the North over damages caused by an attack on its base the day before.

The agency said in a communique that the assault by some al-Arida residents on its base near the border with Syria caused malfunctions in its computer system.

The General Security decided to close the crossing starting 12:00 pm Monday, asking travelers to use other crossings pending the end of restoration work.

Al-Aboudiyeh is the only other legal border checkpoint in northern Lebanon. There are many other illegal crossings along the border with Syria.

On Sunday, angry al-Arida residents smashed the windows of the base and nearby vehicles with rocks after a Syrian man was killed while trying to enter Lebanon from the nearby al-Kabir river.

The man, who was allegedly fleeing the violence in Syria, was shot dead by Syrian security forces.

The residents also scattered General Security's belongings in the base and blocked the international highway with burning tires, calling on the Lebanese army to deploy in the area to protect the border.

But they reopened it later in the day.