RIYADH: A Saudi cargo vessel transporting 137 trucks stranded since April when Syrian rebels took control of Jordan’s Nasib crossing arrived at Beirut port Wednesday.
A source at the port told The Daily Star the vessel “Bahri Jeddah” docked at pier No. 12, carrying 137 freight trailers, in addition to three cars.
Maj. Gen. Mohammad Kheir, head of the Higher Defense Council, said another batch of 24 trucks was expected to arrive from Jordan soon.
More than 200 Lebanese truck drivers became trapped abroad when Syrian rebels took control of the Nasib border crossing in early April, prompting Amman to shut its border with Syria.
Many of them have returned home. Several dozen truckers remain in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kuwait.
Those stuck in Saudi Arabia have been returning home on separate flights since early May.
The Nasib crossing had been the last safe passage from Saudi Arabia to Lebanon before the rebels, who included the Al-Qaeda affiliate Nusra Front, gained control of the crossing
The drivers were still in Saudi Arabia when Jordan shut the border.
