Lebanese Citizens Obtain Syrian Passports in Homs.. A New Gateway to Europe
The involvement of General Intelligence personnel in issuing Syrian passports to Lebanese citizens indicates the existence of an organized network exploiting the Syrian crisis for illegal gains
November 4, 2024, 8:25 pm

Lebanese Citizens Obtain Syrian Passports in Homs.. A New Gateway to Europe

حمص.. حزب الله اللبناني/ ليفانت نيوز

Sources informed Syria TV website that the Homs Immigration and Passports Branch has temporarily suspended issuing passports to Syrians, and begun delivering travel documents to groups of Lebanese displaced persons, including those with dual Syrian-Lebanese citizenship affiliated with Hezbollah.

An inside source at the institution emphasized that the passport issuance operation is being carried out within a limited scope by branch officers, under the direction of Colonel "Hassan Marouf," who was recently delegated from the Tartous branch.

The source explained that a small group of officers, non-commissioned officers, and personnel are overseeing the operation, noting that the branch chief has allocated a special office for (Colonel Hassan Marouf and Major Manhal Al-Kinj), both from the General Intelligence Administration in Damascus.

The source indicated that the majority of passport beneficiaries during the past two months belong to Lebanese Hezbollah.

In the Syrian capital, sources from tourism offices cooperating with diplomatic missions reported an increase in Lebanese citizens' requests for visas from the Serbian Embassy, which continues to operate unlike its European counterparts.

A tourism source reported an inquiry from a Lebanese citizen about the motives behind extracting about 32 visas for multiple families, only to discover that "the eye is red from us people of the South," according to the Lebanese citizen, who confirmed that the easiest path to reach Europe is to travel legally to Serbia and then infiltrate the European Union and seek asylum using the Syrian passport.

In the German capital, activist Samia Dannawar, working with the refugee organization "AW Arbeiterwohlfahrt," expressed concerns after monitoring cases of recently arrived Lebanese presenting themselves as Syrian refugees, noting that one admitted "having family ties with Syrian families that prompted him to obtain a Syrian passport."

Dannawar emphasized that "the dimensions of the issue don't stop at obtaining asylum opportunities with potentially forged data because this will negatively impact the Syrian community and deprive those who have the right to asylum of their chance to start a new life after being displaced by the Assad regime and the party."

Levant-Agencies

Opening of Abu Zandin Crossing in Eastern Aleppo between the Government and Opposition Organization: Armed Gangs Turn Afrin Displaced People into Hostages in Nubl and Al-Zahraa

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”