Syrian Civil Defense teams, supported by elements of the Syrian Arab Army, rescued several people from drowning early Sunday morning as they attempted to cross the Al-Kabir Al-Janoubi River near the villages of Al-Shabrouniya and Al-Dabousiya, close to the city of Talkalakh in western Homs countryside. The individuals were attempting to cross illegally into and out of Lebanon.
Munir Qaddour, commander of the Talkalakh center team affiliated with the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management, explained to SANA that the center received a report of people drowning near the village of Al-Shabrouniya, an area known for illegal crossing attempts. He stated that specialized teams with the necessary equipment were immediately dispatched to the location. He added that the high water levels in the river's tributaries and the strong current forced the teams to complete the rescue operation on foot, accompanied by members of the 52nd Division of the Syrian Arab Army.
Qaddour explained that after a long search, two women and a young man were found. They received first aid and were transferred to Talkalakh National Hospital for treatment. He noted that the survivors reported their group consisted of 11 people, four of whom returned to Lebanese territory, while others were swept away by the current.
Qaddour indicated that Civil Defense teams attempted to continue the search by entering the riverbed, but the presence of landmines left over from the former regime along its banks, in addition to the high water level and strong current, prevented them from continuing operations at the Shabrouniya and Dabousiya sites.
He pointed out that the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management sent a support team, including divers and specialized rescue equipment, but the continuation of the operations was postponed due to the dangerous conditions in the area. Coordination with the Lebanese side is scheduled for this morning to allow them to cross to the other side and continue the search from there.
For his part, Eid al-Azraq, the head of the Criminal Investigation Department in the Talkalakh region, explained that at 11:30 PM, a report was received about people drowning while attempting to cross through illegal crossings. A security force was dispatched to the location, and he noted that Civil Defense teams and members of the 52nd Division were able to rescue two women and a young man, who were then transported to Talkalakh National Hospital.
In the testimonies of survivors, Maria al-Samman explained that she was part of several groups attempting to cross from Syria into Lebanon. She emphasized the difficulty of the route, particularly the seasonal watercourses, and stated that Syrian Arab Army personnel reached them before they completed crossing the river. They were then transported to Civil Defense and subsequently to Talkalakh Hospital to receive necessary medical care.
Lina Sharaf al-Din indicated that her group was attempting to cross into Lebanon with the help of a smuggler, but the high water level and strong current of the river nearly caused them to drown before Syrian Arab Army teams arrived and rescued them.
For his part, Syrian refugee Nayef Riya stated that he was stopped by Lebanese gendarmerie while on his way to work inside Lebanon. He and a group of other refugees were taken to a border crossing opposite the village of Dabousieh, where they were ordered to cross the river into Syrian territory. He noted that heavy rain and strong currents prevented most of them from crossing, and some returned to the Lebanese side, while he himself managed to escape after being rescued by members of the Syrian Arab Army.
The border areas between Syria and Lebanon, particularly in the western Homs countryside, are witnessing frequent attempts to cross through illegal crossings. Meanwhile, relevant authorities are intensifying their efforts to combat human trafficking networks, pursue those involved, and reduce the risks to civilian lives by strengthening security measures and field coordination to protect the borders and ensure the safety of citizens.
SANA, Zaman Al Wasl
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