Report: Syrian Trucks Transporting Gasoline from Lebanon to Damascus

Several Syrian gasoline trucks have reportedly headed to Damascus after filling their tankers in Lebanon, media reports said on Tuesday, pointing out that two trucks came under fire in the norther city of Tripoli.

The Energy Ministry has meanwhile denied the claims.

According to Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) five trucks arrived earlier in al-Madfoun crossing in northern Lebanon, while other 10 trucks were on their way to al-Masnaa border crossing in the east.

Meanwhile, VDL (93.3) reported that unknown assailants opened fire at two gasoline trucks carrying Syrian license plates in Tripoli, prompting the army to deploy in the area.

Later on Tuesday, resident in al-Beddawi in the North stopped several tanker trucks carrying diesel from Lebanon to Syria, said the National News Agency.

The army has since mobilized in the Bekaa valley to keep the safety of Syrian trucks, reported LBCI television.

The Energy Ministry denied exporting diesel to Syria from the Tripoli and al-Zahrani refineries.

It instead said that the export is taking place through a privately-owned company.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper earlier reported that several Syrian gasoline trucks entered Lebanon on Monday night to fill their tankers and were witnessed in al-Karantina area.

State Minister Ahmed Karami denied in comments to the daily that Energy Minister Jebran Bassil informed the cabinet of such a decision, “if any was taken in this regard.”

“The matter wasn't proposed before the cabinet,” Karami said.

Asked if the government will discuss the issue during its upcoming session at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday, the minister said: “We will be briefed on any decision taken by Prime Minister Najib Miqati concerning the matter.”

“Lebanon can be affected by such a move” if the reports were true, Karami added.

The United States and the European Union had imposed several sanctions on the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad after the revolt began in March 2011.

The sanctions have hit hard the oil sector in Syria and caused widespread fuel and diesel shortages.

For his part, al-Mustaqbal MP Ahmed Fatfat told VDL (100.5) that “it is a scandal... that proves that the current cabinet hasn't committed by the disassociating policy” concerning the developments in Syria.

Fatfat noted that the government is supporting the Assad regime by carrying out such a move given that military vehicles used to clamp down on rebels are using the fuel.