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A tragic incident involving the drowning of a number of Syrians while trying to cross the northern border of Lebanon has sparked widespread controversy. News spread that the Lebanese army forced them to cross the river, prompting a swift response from the army command. The command categorically denied any involvement in the incident or forcing anyone to return across the river, and affirmed its commitment to facilitating the voluntary return of Syrians through official crossings and in cooperation with the Syrian authorities.
In this context, the general coordinator of the National Campaign for the Return of Displaced Syrians, Captain Maroun Al-Khouli, stated to that he supports the statement issued by the Lebanese Army Command – Directorate of Guidance, and clarified that “what was published goes beyond the truth and constitutes misleading information.”
He added that “these narratives come from Syrian sites driven by organized human smuggling networks, operating inside Syria and in cooperation with parties inside Lebanon, with the aim of holding the army responsible for the loss of people who were victims of these same networks, and to embarrass the military institution that is carrying out its national duty in protecting the borders and preventing illegal crossings.”
Emphasis on voluntary return and the safety of returnees
Al-Khouli affirmed that “the circulating allegations contradict the facts on the ground and the official policies of the Lebanese state, especially with regard to the voluntary return program for Syrians, which provides humanitarian and legal mechanisms to ensure the safety of returnees and their safe arrival, in coordination with the competent Syrian authorities, with the provision of logistical support when needed.”
The need to toughen penalties for smuggling crimes
Al-Khouli pointed out that “the effective response to these campaigns is not limited to media denial, but must include strict legislative measures, by amending and intensifying the penalties applied to human smuggling crimes, in a way that reflects the seriousness of these crimes that threaten human and national security alike.”
A call for real action to combat smuggling mafias
Al-Khouli concluded his statement by emphasizing that “combating smuggling mafias requires real action, through integrated security, judicial and legislative cooperation, to ensure the sovereignty of the state, protect human rights, and support the military institution that has proven its commitment to the laws and national duty, away from any media exploitation or promotion of misleading information.”
