evidence: The Lebanese Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ali Hamiyah, said in a press statement on 16 March that the Lebanese government had "approved the establishment of a new crossing with Syria in the Hermel district," explicating that its purpose is to relieve the people of the area from the burden of heading to al-Qaa or al-Masnaa border posts when entering Syria. [...] Speaking to Enab Baladi, he explained that the Hermel crossing, between the al-Masnaa and al-Qaa crossings, helps facilitate the passage of people through it. Shaar ruled out that the primary purpose of advertising the crossing would be economical.