Energy Ministry: Captured Tankers Filled by Private Companies, Lebanon not Committed to Syria's Sanctions
The Energy Ministry announced on Tuesday that fuel tankers captured transporting oil to Syria are filled by private companies, stressing that the cabinet is not committed to the sanctions imposed on the neighboring country.
"All matters related to exporting fuel from the ministry's reservoirs in the Tripoli and al-Zahrani refineries are strictly under its powers,” the ministry said in a released statement.
It added: “As such it is a right under Lebanese laws”.
However, the statement denied having exported any oil to Syria from the ministry's refineries, assuring that the tankers so far have only been filled by private companies, one of them also located in al-Zahrani region.
It clarified: “The ministry's refineries do not possess the type of fuel exported to Syria”.
The ministry said that the cabinet is not committed to the sanctions imposed on Syria.
"The numerous trucks transporting different kinds of goods on the border are a proof that these sanctions are not binding,” it remarked.
The National News Agency had reported earlier on Tuesday that residents of al-Baddawi region in the northern Akkar had stopped several tankers transporting diesel to Syria.
Meanwhile, radio Voice of Lebanon (93.3) said that unknown assailants opened fire at two gasoline trucks carrying Syrian license plates in Tripoli, prompting the army to deploy in the area.
This comes after several media outlets said on Tuesday that gasoline trucks have reportedly headed to Damascus after filling their tankers in Lebanon.
Since the eruption of Syria's war, the cabinet in Lebanon has adopted a policy of disassociation towards the neighboring country's events. The Lebanese state, however, is obligated to abide by the Arab League and the International decisions taken against the Syrian regime.
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