Lebanese Army Raids Hezbollah Stronghold, Seizes Rockets

The large haul of combat equipment (Lebanese Army)

The Lebanese army carried out a rare enforcement operation in the Baalbek district in the eastern part of the country, arresting six suspects on serious charges of drug trafficking, weapons possession and illegal fire. The operation focused on three towns in the area: Iaat, Deir al-Ahmar and Tal al-Abyad, all part of the Shiite district known as a Hezbollah stronghold.

According to the official Lebanese army statement, the raid was conducted as part of ongoing security monitoring in the fight against drug trafficking and tracking of lawbreakers. Army forces raided the homes of wanted individuals and arrested four Lebanese citizens and two Syrian nationals.

During the operation, large quantities of combat equipment and military ammunition were seized, some of which were packed inside vehicles. Among the items confiscated: various types of weapons, large amounts of ammunition, rocket projectiles and mortar shells. In addition, forces located additional military equipment alongside instruments and raw materials used for drug production.

The Baalbek operation joins a series of similar actions carried out by the Lebanese army in recent months, though on the ground there are no significant signs of activity against Hezbollah itself. Lebanon recently accused Israel of continuous violations of the ceasefire agreement, with Lebanese command sources claiming Israel has violated the agreement thousands of times since its inception.

Ammunition quantities seized (Lebanese Army)

The Baalbek area, where the operation was conducted, is considered one of Hezbollah's main centers in Lebanon. The IDF has struck this area in the past, approximately 80 kilometers from the Israeli border, as part of its efforts to hit the organization's terror infrastructure.

All arrested suspects were transferred for interrogation under the supervision of the relevant legal authorities, and the seized equipment was handed over to the appropriate authorities. The Lebanese army emphasized it will continue enforcement activity against drug trafficking and illegal weapons possession.

The operation demonstrates the ongoing efforts of Lebanese security forces to deal with organized crime in rural areas, though the question of the effectiveness of these actions against the terror organizations themselves remains open. Israel continues to monitor developments in Lebanese territory and to act to remove threats to residents of the north.