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Grenades seized at New Yabous
Syrian authorities announced they foiled a second attempt in a week to smuggle weapons into Lebanon, intercepting a private vehicle at the Jdeideh Yabous border crossing.
“customs personnel stationed at the Jdeideh Yabous border crossing intercepted a private vehicle”
Roya News said customs personnel found 226 RGC-type grenades hidden within secret compartments inside the vehicle bound for Lebanese territory.
The operation was described as the second major weapons bust by Syrian authorities in less than a week, following a July 15 interception at the Al-Tanf border post of a suspicious oil tanker carrying long-range missiles, anti-tank guided missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Roya News added that Syrian authorities stated after the July 15 seizure that preliminary evidence indicated the shipment was destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hezbollah later issued a statement denying involvement.
Driver arrested, legal steps
Israel National News reported that Syria’s Border Crossings and Customs Authority said customs officers at the Jdeidat Yabous border crossing became suspicious of a private vehicle headed for Lebanon and subjected it to a thorough inspection.
The same source said that with the assistance of a K9 unit, officers discovered weapons concealed inside the vehicle and that authorities seized 226 grenade launcher rounds along with additional ammunition.
Israel National News stated that the driver was arrested at the scene and legal proceedings were initiated against him, with the seized weapons transferred to the relevant authorities for further investigation.
Euronews described the New Yabous border crossing as located on the road between Damascus and Beirut and said customs officers suspected a private car headed to Lebanon and subjected it to a thorough inspection with the participation of a canine unit, yielding 226 RGC-type grenades hidden inside secret compartments.
Hezbollah link and denials
Multiple outlets tied the seizure to Hezbollah, with Al Jazeera Net saying the General Authority for Border Crossings and Customs of Syria announced it thwarted a shipment of ammunition to Lebanese territory containing 226 bombs.
“containing 226 bombs”
Al Jazeera Net reported that the interception came about a week after the seizure of a large shipment of weapons, missiles, and drones after suspicion regarding an oil transport tanker crossing the Tanf border crossing with Iraq, and that the Syrian Interior Ministry said the shipment was on its way to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Euronews said Hezbollah denied the Syrian accusations, calling them baseless, while also describing the border-control campaign as part of Syria’s efforts to bolster monitoring at border crossings to prevent weapon and ammunition smuggling.
Euronews further stated that the crackdown is part of efforts to impose state control over land crossings and prevent Syria from being used as a transit route for smuggling operations that threaten the security of Syria and neighboring countries.