Lebanon Detains Five Over Rocket Fire Toward Israel

FILED - 31 May 2022, Lebanon, Beirut: Lebanese soldiers stand guard in front of the parliament building in Beirut. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
FILED - 31 May 2022, Lebanon, Beirut: Lebanese soldiers stand guard in front of the parliament building in Beirut. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
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Lebanon Detains Five Over Rocket Fire Toward Israel

FILED - 31 May 2022, Lebanon, Beirut: Lebanese soldiers stand guard in front of the parliament building in Beirut. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
FILED - 31 May 2022, Lebanon, Beirut: Lebanese soldiers stand guard in front of the parliament building in Beirut. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa

The Lebanese Army on Tuesday received a third suspect from the Palestinian group Hamas over rocket attacks launched from southern Lebanon toward Israel in March, bringing the total number of detainees to five.

In a statement issued by the Army’s Directorate of Guidance, the military said it had taken custody of the Palestinian national, identified by the initials Q.S., at the entrance of the Al-Bass refugee camp in the southern city of Tyre.

The handover follows the transfer of two other Hamas members on Sunday and Monday, as part of a broader security operation led by the Lebanese Army’s Intelligence Directorate.

The move comes in line with a recommendation by Lebanon’s Supreme Defense Council and a decision by the government to apprehend those involved in the attacks.

The suspects are believed to have played roles in rocket launches toward Israeli territory on March 22 and 28, 2025.

Military authorities confirmed that the newly detained suspect is now under investigation under the supervision of the relevant judicial authorities.

Security forces are continuing efforts to track down additional individuals linked to the rocket fire.

Rockets fired from southern Lebanon toward Israel on March 22 and 28 were launched by unidentified assailants, but subsequent investigations by Lebanese authorities revealed that some of those involved were affiliated with the Palestinian group Hamas, security sources said.

Two suspects have already been detained, and authorities have launched a manhunt for others believed to have taken part in the attacks.

In response, Lebanon’s Supreme Defense Council issued a recommendation to the government on Friday, urging it to formally warn Hamas against using Lebanese territory to carry out operations that threaten national security.

“The most severe measures will be taken to put a definitive end to any act that violates Lebanese sovereignty,” the council said in its statement.



Lebanese Prime Minister: No Turning Back on State Decision to Control All Arms

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
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Lebanese Prime Minister: No Turning Back on State Decision to Control All Arms

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasized on Friday that Lebanon has succeeded at making a new promising start despite all the challenges facing the process of reform and restoring confidence in the state.

He said the government has a task of restoring the confidence of its people, Arab brethrens, its friends, and the whole world in Lebanon as a state.

Salam made his remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat before heading to Baghdad leading a delegation of officials to take part in the Arab summit. He will “convey a message of promise and hope” about Lebanon to the Arab leaders and their people, he said, expressing deep trust in the capability to make remarkable achievements.

On the message he plans to convey at the Arab summit, Salam said he and the accompanying delegation want to assure that Lebanon has returned to the Arab fold. Lebanon is relentlessly working to “return to the Arab and international map...We also want the Arab summit to help Lebanon in pressuring Israel to withdraw from the entire Lebanese territories” it is occupying.

Salam stressed that Hezbollah lawmakers have agreed to the ministerial statement - based on which the government garnered the parliament’s confidence- which clearly states that weapons are restricted to the state’s authority. “The government is working on achieving this goal”, he said.

The Prime Minister pointed to the army’s efforts in that regard. He said the military has deployed in South Lebanon and continues to dismantle military infrastructures and intensifies measures to control the border with Syria in order stop all kinds of smuggling, not to mention the security measures it has taken at the country’s airport.

Salam emphasized that there will be no turning back in the decision to limit weapons to the state’s control.

On Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Salam said that there is a major turning point happening in the region and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has succeeded at drawing itself a major player in international relations.

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