Items confiscated by the Lebanese army during its security operations. (Credit: @LebarmyOfficial/X)
AKKAR — Four people were recently arrested at checkpoints in Shadra and Roueima, Akkar, in northern Lebanon, for attempting to transport military ammunition, the Lebanese Army announced in a statement on Saturday. Army units supported by Intelligence Directorate patrols, also raided the homes of certain wanted individuals in Baalbeck and Hermel districts.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="ar" dir="rtl">أوقفت وحدات من الجيش عند حاجزَي شدرا والرويمة – عكار المواطنين: (خ.م.)، (ع.م.)، (ه.ج.)، (ا.ج.)، (س.ج.)، لإقدامهم على نقل ذخائر حربية.<br>كما دهمت وحدات أخرى تؤازر كلًّا منها دورية من مديرية المخابرات منازل مطلوبين في بلدة عين بورضاي وحي الشراونة – بعلبك، وجرد فيسان – الهرمل، وأوقفت… <a href="https://t.co/atBfzJJfHI">pic.twitter.com/atBfzJJfHI</a></p>— الجيش اللبناني (@LebarmyOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/LebarmyOfficial/status/1900903003382509603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In the raids in the Baalbeck district's Ain Bourdai and Sharawneh areas and Hermel district's Jurd Fesan, a citizen was arrested for possessing weapons and ammunition, which were seized along with drugs, though which drug is not specified. Investigations are underway.
In the Bekaa Valley, which includes the Baalbeck district, the state faces challenges in asserting its authority. The region frequently witnesses security operations by the Lebanese Army.
Lately, Akkar, Hermel and Bekaa districts, bordering Syria, have seen episodes of tension with the rapid developments in Syria. Fighting along the border in Hermel flared up in early February, when Syria's new government announced the beginning of an "extensive campaign" in Hawik, a village just over the border in Syrian territory allegedly used as part of Hezbollah's supply route and mostly inhabited by members of the Lebanese Zaaiter and Jaafar tribes.
On Friday night, clashes appeared to momentarily reignite, with shootings from the Syrian side of the border, where the new Syrian security forces have forcibly closed illegal border crossings.