Lebanese army arrests Syrian man for arms smuggling near Syria border
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Lebanese army announced on Tuesday the arrest of an individual accused of arms trafficking and smuggling along the Lebanese-Syrian border.
The announcement came a day after Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and members of his cabinet visited Damascus, where they met with Syrian officials, including the Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa, to discuss bilateral issues—chief among them, border security.
According to a statement from the Lebanese forces, the Intelligence Directorate in the Bekaa region apprehended a Syrian national involved in weapons smuggling and seized military-grade arms in his possession.
The statement emphasized that the operation is part of ongoing efforts to combat cross-border arms trafficking.
Additionally, army units—supported by patrols from the Intelligence Directorate—raided the homes of other suspects in the towns of al-Karak (Zahle) and Gaza in the Western Bekaa, resulting in the arrest of another individual believed to be working with the main suspect.
On March 16, tensions flared along the border when clashes erupted between members of the Syrian Defense Ministry and armed groups following the killing of three Syrian Ministry of Defense personnel by Lebanese gunmen in the al-Qasr border area.