Lebanese soldiers deployed in Houla (Marjayoun) on Feb. 18, 2025, hours after the retreat of the Israeli army. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/L'Orient Today)
The Lebanese Army announced in a statement Wednesday that it arrested four individuals involved in an armed parade in Zoqaq al-Blat (Beirut district), "following days of surveillance and pursuit operations."
The Lebanese Army also arrested a man from southern Lebanon's Jezzine district on Monday, who was allegedly involved in the same parade. The army also seized a "war pistol" that was in the suspect's possession..
A video circulated online on Sunday showed armed individuals participating in the religious Ashura ritual, which commemorates the killing of Imam al-Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad. The men were walking with their arms raised toward the sky, rhythmically striking their chests and chanting in his honor, while carrying weapons pointed upward.
"Patrols from the Directorate of Intelligence arrested four individuals in the city of Beirut and the town of Ain Qana, Nabatieh. The suspects were among the armed men who had appeared during the march," the statement read.
An investigation has been launched under the supervision of the competent judiciary.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam responded to the footage on Saturday, writing on X: “The armed parades that took place in Beirut are unacceptable in any form and under any justification whatsoever. I have contacted the Ministers of Interior and Justice and asked them to take all necessary measures to enforce the law, arrest the perpetrators and refer them for investigation.”
The Cabinet and President Michel Aoun have repeatedly stated that Lebanon must monopolize arms, mainly referring to Hezbollah’s arsenal. Recently, Lebanon received a proposal from the U.S. regarding Hezbollah’s disarmament, to which Beirut is expected to respond soon. Hezbollah, however, refuses to hand over its arsenal.
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