Lebanese army arrests suspects amid border escalation with Israel
FILE - Lebanese army soldiers sit on their armored vehicle as they patrol the Lebanese side of the Lebanese-Israeli border in the southern village of Kfar Kila, Lebanon, on Oct. 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein, File)
The Lebanese army has arrested several individuals suspected of involvement in border escalation between southern Lebanon toward northern Israel, The New Arab reports on March 30th.
This development comes as tensions escalate along the border following Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs.
The arrests were announced on March 29th during a visit by Lebanese army Commander-in-Chief General Rodolphe Haykal to the South Litani Sector Command in Tyr.
Haykal confirmed that the suspects were under investigation and that further inquiries were underway by the Lebanese army to determine responsibility for the Israel attacks which ultimately aided in the border escalation.
“Rocket fire from Lebanese territory toward the occupied Palestinian territories serves the enemy,” Haykal stated.
“Our duty is to protect Lebanon and its citizens, regardless of their affiliation.”
He commended army units deployed in the south for their efforts in maintaining stability and reiterated that the biggest obstacle to a full army deployment and ceasefire enforcement remains “the Israeli enemy’s continued occupation of Lebanese territory, repeated attacks, and violations of national sovereignty.”
Haykal reaffirmed the army’s commitment to implementing UN Resolution 1701 and upholding the ceasefire in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), following the directives of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and the government.
On March 31st, local media reported that several Syrian and Palestinian individuals had been detained near the rocket launch site but were released after questioning.
Tensions have intensified following Israel’s airstrike on Beirut’s Hadath suburb on March 29th—the first since the November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which ended a brief but intense conflict.
The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings more than an hour before the strike and conducted initial warning shots before launching the main attack.
Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the recent rocket fire, maintaining that it remains committed to the ceasefire and accusing Israel of “fabricating pretexts to justify its continued aggression against Lebanon.”
Despite a relative calm on March 30th following the deadly escalation that killed at least six people in southern Lebanon the day prior, border tensions remained high.
A French UNIFIL patrol came under fire from an Israeli position while inspecting an earth mound erected by Israeli forces in Wadi Qatmoun, near the border village of Rmeich in the Bint Jbeil district.
In a separate incident, Israeli soldiers fired machine guns toward the eastern neighborhoods of Kfarchouba (Hasbaya district), damaging homes and vehicles.
Earlier on March 30th, Israeli forces also dropped two stun grenades in Yaroun (Bint Jbeil district), according to local journalist Mountasser Abdallah.
No injuries were reported.
The New Arab. Maghrebi
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