The Lebanese army finds a tunnel... and thwarts weapons smuggling from Syria

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After the confusion caused by the discovery of a tunnel east of Beirut, the Lebanese army announced the discovery of a new one north of the Lebanese capital. The army explained in a statement today, Thursday, that it found an incomplete and old tunnel in the Aqoura-Jbeil area, which belongs to the Mount Lebanon Governorate, during the implementation of a training exercise unit within its sector.

He also pointed out that a specialized military unit attended and conducted an inspection of the tunnel, which revealed that it was old and devoid of any equipment or contents. He concluded by stressing that he is following up on the issue in order to uncover the circumstances of digging this tunnel.

On the other hand, the army announced that it had thwarted a weapons smuggling operation in the Akrum-Akkar border area, from Syrian territory to Lebanese territory.

He also pointed out the arrest of a wanted person in the Ruwaymah-Akkar area and another in the town of Arsal-Baalbek for carrying out smuggling activities.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stressed during a cabinet session today the necessity of “imposing the most severe punishment on those who transport or store weapons and threaten the safety of citizens.”

He also stressed the need to prosecute anyone who stores and transports weapons illegally and outside the framework of the state.

Meanwhile, the ministers of the Lebanese Forces Party withdrew from the Lebanese Council of Ministers session, in protest against the failure to refer the issue of explosives seized in the Dahr al-Baydar and Qusayr regions to the Judicial Council.

The Council of Ministers held its session at the Republican Palace, headed by President Joseph Aoun, and in the presence of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the ministers, to discuss an agenda that includes 21 items, the most prominent of which is the Ministry of Justice’s request to refer the explosives file to the Judicial Council.

This came after another tunnel was found a few days ago in the Al-Fanar area adjacent to the Zaitaria area, part of which is known to support Hezbollah.

At the time, this incident raised many speculations amid accusations and doubts directed at Hezbollah by some representatives of the Matn District.

This incident also came amid mounting criticism of Hezbollah amid accusations that it was dragging the country into useless wars, and its rebellion against government decisions that officially approved several months ago banning its military activity.

Last week, security forces also arrested two men suspected of belonging to Hezbollah in the Dahr al-Baydar area on the international road between Beirut and the Syrian border while they were transporting 500 kilograms of explosive materials.

While Hezbollah acknowledged that the shipment of explosive materials belonged to it, it stressed that “its use was directed against Israel,” demanding the release of the detainees.

There is a widespread belief and conviction in Lebanon that the party built many tunnels in the south and the Bekaa (east of the country) as well as other regions over the years, where it extended its own communications network, as well as corridors for transporting weapons away from the eyes of the legitimate authority.