DAMASCUS, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Syrian authorities said Saturday that a key border crossing with Lebanon will be temporarily closed due to security concerns following Israeli warnings of possible strikes on the area.
The General Authority for Land and Sea Borders and Crossings said the Jdeidet Yabous crossing, opposite Lebanon's Masnaa crossing, is designated solely for civilian use, not for any military purposes.
"There are no armed groups or militias present at the crossing, and it is not used for any activity outside civilian and legal frameworks," the authority said in a statement.
Traffic would resume once the situation stabilizes, it said.
The announcement came after the Israeli military said it intended to target the road leading to the Masnaa crossing, a major transit point along the Syrian-Lebanese border, alleging that Hezbollah uses the route for military actions.
Tensions have remained high along the border amid ongoing regional hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran. ■
