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. [...] Smuggling operations into Lebanese territory are frequent and are active through groups from both countries across the land borders, especially with the large number of militias affiliated with the regime forces and the Lebanese Hezbollah. [...] 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.