BEIRUT, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese army closed Tuesday all illegal crossings along the border with Syria in north Bekaa to stop smuggling, local media reported.

"The move also aims at preventing the illegal entry of Syrian refugees into Lebanon," according to Elnashra, an online independent newspaper.

Since the start of the civil war in Syria, Lebanon's General Security has arrested a big number of Syrian refugees attempting to enter Lebanon in an illegal way.

The latest case happened Monday when Lebanese security forces arrested 13 Syrian nationals in Taanayel town in Bekaa over illegal entry from Syria to Lebanon.

In 2015, the Lebanese government has barred the UN refugee agency from registering Syrian refugees and placed additional restrictions on their entry into the country without guarantors, work visas or visas for transit.

Such measures led to a rise in the number of Syrian refugees attempting to enter Lebanon illegally.

As a result, security forces have been trying to crack down on smuggling in areas close to the border with Syria.