Lebanese Army soldiers deployed in southern Beirut suburbs following an Israeli airstrike on Hadath, on March 28, 2025. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine / L'OLJ)
The Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Army, General Rodolph Haykal, stated on Saturday that the military had arrested several individuals suspected of being involved in rocket fire from southern Lebanon towards northern Israel, to which Israel retaliated on Friday by striking the southern suburbs of Beirut.
"Rocket fire from Lebanese territory towards the occupied Palestinian territories serves the enemy," General Haykal said during a visit to the South Litani Sector Command at the Benoit Barakat Barracks in Sour. "The army is conducting the necessary investigations to identify the perpetrators of the rocket fire and has arrested a number of suspects who will be investigated," he continued.
The Commander-in-Chief of the army also stated that the units deployed in southern Lebanon "play a fundamental role in serving the homeland and contributing to its strength," emphasizing that it is the military institution's duty "to protect Lebanon and its citizens, regardless of their affiliation." He stressed that "the only obstacle to the continued deployment of the army and the maintenance of the cease-fire is the presence of the Israeli enemy in points and positions occupied within Lebanese territory, in addition to its repeated attacks against Lebanon, its violations of national sovereignty, and its search for pretexts to expand its hostilities against the homeland."
"We are determined to implement Resolution 1701 and the cease-fire agreement without any setback, in accordance with the instructions of President Joseph Aoun, and the commitment of the government," he concluded, assuring that the army will continue to "cooperate, coordinate, and carry out joint missions with UNIFIL."
Four months after the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, which ended the open conflict on Oct. 8, 2023, Israel attacked Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday, marking the first such attack since the proclamation of the truce. After several warning shots, the Israeli air force struck a building in Hadath, whose residents had been called to evacuate over an hour earlier. Hezbollah denied any involvement in the rocket fire from southern Lebanon towards Israel, asserting its "respect for the cease-fire agreement." It also accused Israel of attempting to "create suspicious pretexts to continue its aggression against Lebanon."
UNIFIL patrol comes under fire in the South
After this flare-up, which resulted in at least six deaths on Friday in southern Lebanon, tensions somewhat eased on Saturday. However, a patrol from the French battalion of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) came under fire from an Israeli position while inspecting an embankment built by Israeli troops in Wadi Qatmoun, near the border village of Rmeich (Bint Jbeil district).
Additionally, Israeli soldiers opened fire with machine guns on the eastern neighborhoods of the border village of Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya district), damaging houses and vehicles. On Saturday morning, the Israeli army dropped two stun grenades in the village square of Yaroun (Bint Jbeil district), causing no injuries, according to our correspondent Muntasser Abdallah.
Humanitarian convoy reaches Rmeish, Ain Ibl, Dibil despite obstacles
