Lebanese Army Raids Msharrafieh Arms Depot, Arrests One Person

Raid in Beirut suburbs

The Lebanese army said it raided an arms depot in Beirut's southern suburbs and arrested one person, describing the operation as "a special security operation after close monitoring of the transportation and trade of weapons." The army said troops targeted an "arms depot in the Msharrafieh area of the southern suburbs" and seized "a large number of war arms and munitions," while its statement did not say who the weapons belonged to.

+2Location given8 of 9 outlets reported it · not in Al-Jazirah Net▾

Naharnet said the depot was in Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, and it said the army arrested one person who was under investigation. The raid came as Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement in June that included the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from territory it occupies in the south, and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the area, according to the reports.

Reporting for this sectionMiddle East EyeNaharnet

Debate over state control

The Lebanese army said it carried out a qualitative security operation after "precise monitoring and follow-up of weapons transfers and trafficking," and it said it seized a large quantity of weapons and ammunition while arresting a person under judicial supervision.

The Anadolu Ajansı report said the raid came amid efforts by Lebanese authorities to bring weapons under exclusive state control following a government decision banning Hezbollah's military and security activities, while the army did not link the operation to that decision.

The Lebanese army statement reported by Anadolu Ajansı did not identify the owner of the seized weapons or say whether they were linked to any organization or armed group, and it also provided no details on their exact type or quantity.

+1No ownership named7 of 8 outlets reported it · not in Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed▾

Retired Brig. Gen. Fadi Daoud told Asharq Al-Awsat that the raid represented proactive security action based on monitoring and follow-up, and he said the army's statement spoke of weapons trading and transfer without identifying the owner of the depot.

Reporting for this sectionAnadolu Ajansı

Regional and political stakes

President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun affirmed that UN Security Council Resolution 1701 should remain the legal reference for any future international arrangements in southern Lebanon, while stressing the need for UNIFIL to continue its mission or find an alternative mechanism under UN auspices. عين ليبيا said the army raid in Beirut's southern suburb brought the issue of exclusive state control over weapons back to the forefront of Lebanon's political and security discussions, even as the army did not attribute the depot to Hezbollah.

The same report said the army detained a citizen referred to by initials “A.A.”, and it said information to Asharq Al-Awsat indicated the depot owner belongs to one of the Sayyid families of the Shiaa region and that he disappeared after the operation. The report also said militarily, the Lebanese army raided an arsenal of weapons and war munitions in the al-Moshafiya area of Beirut’s southern suburb, and it said the confiscated items were handed over while investigations with the detained began under the supervision of the competent judiciary.

One arrest5 of 8 outlets reported it · not in Middle East Eye and 2 more▾