Hundreds of Lebanese trucks carrying agricultural goods are being stranded at the Syrian border for days at a time while officials check for weapons, it has been claimed.
As many as 500 trucks have been held up at border crossings, costing Lebanon $1.5 million in lost trade, according to Ibrahim Tarshishi, head of the Lebanese Farmers Association.
Waddah Fakri, head of the Southern Farmers Association, added: "The situation is extremely dangerous because Lebanon exports all of its products through Syria to other Arab countries, especially to the Gulf region."
The recent tightening of security at the border has led to almost no movement into Syria.
Outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he had been promised by Syrian Prime Minister Naji al-Otari that the problem would ease soon.
He said: "I discussed with him ways to resolve the problem and, in fact, things are taking a positive turn towards easing the passage of trucks and alleviating security measures,"
