4 armed Hezbollah supporters referred to military investigating judge

Four Hezbollah members were prosecuted Monday by the government commissioner to the military court, Claude Ghanem. The cases are part of measures taken under the law banning the transport of weapons, ammunition or other war equipment without a license, and follow a March 2 Cabinet decision declaring Hezbollah's military activities illegal.

A judicial source told L’Orient-Le Jour that the four men were arrested several days ago at army checkpoints. Two of them were transporting 122 mm rockets used in heavy artillery to southern Lebanon, while the other two were found with pistols and rifles. All four have been referred to the first military investigative judge, Ghada Abou Alwane, for a broader investigation.

Possessing small arms is legally classified as a misdemeanor, while transporting shells is considered a felony due to the risk of creating a state of war, the source explained.

Judge Ghanem had already taken similar measures last week against two other Hezbollah supporters, also arrested by the army while in possession of small arms.

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Armed Hezbollah supporters: Between swift releases and new charges

In total, about 20 people have been arrested in similar circumstances at army checkpoints across the country. On March 9, the military court decided to release three of them – all Hezbollah members – on bail of $21, sparking controversy.

The other detainees were handled differently: some were handed over to the police, while others were released without being referred to court. According to the judicial source cited earlier, the public prosecutor currently has no pending cases involving armed supporters.

Early last week, a Christian individual arrested at the Madfoun army checkpoint in north Lebanon with a single weapon for personal defense was released. The prosecutor did not classify the case as related to militia activity.