BEIRUT, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese navy on Friday intercepted 108 Syrian nationals and two Lebanese attempting to leave the country illegally by sea.
The naval forces thwarted their smuggling attempt off the coast of the northern city of Tripoli, according to a statement by the army, without saying where their vessel was headed.
Over the past three years, Lebanon witnessed rising illegal immigration attempts, both by Lebanese nationals and Syrian refugees living in the country, by sea to Europe as the country's financial crisis has plunged millions into poverty. ■
