Army Pursues Weapons Smugglers, Warns of Harboring Suspects

The army raids and airdrops in the northern villages of Lebanon faced high criticism by the opposition as the military stressed that these operations will be followed by several more.

A military source told An Nahar newspaper on Monday that the operations that began over the weekend were planned a long time ago, but weather conditions hindered them.

“The army will deploy in any area that witnesses acts that jeopardize the national security,” the source said.

It noted that the army is tracking down arms smugglers, revealing that a number of suspects were detained but it refused to disclose their nationalities.

Over the weekend, the army searched villages bordering Syria following information it received about the presence of armed groups that allegedly belong to the Free Syrian Army.

The poorly-demarcated Syrian-Lebanese border has witnessed a number of violations.

“The army detained a number of suspects and is conducting investigations with them. Those who are innocent will be released and the rest will be referred to the judiciary,” the source said.

The military official told An Nahar that any “region suspected of harboring smugglers will be stormed,” saying: “All arms dealers are under surveillance no matter what their sect was.”

The source slammed those who accused the army of “implementing Syrian orders,” saying that the army already launched such operations in Brital and Beirut without announcing the operations.

“We don’t need to coordinate (with the Syrian regime), we know more about the situation (in the country),” it said.

“The army is carrying out its duties as it is tasked with maintaining security,” it told the daily, adding that the army “informed the political authorities about its operations.”

Sources close to Prime Minister Najib Miqati told An Nahar that “the army’s operations were based on a political decision taken by the Higher Defense Council.”

However, the sources said that Miqati expressed confidence in the army and its leadership.

According to the daily, the premier will hold a meeting on Monday with Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji.

The newspaper reported that the Syrian-Lebanese joint subcommittee for the Lebanese province of Baalbek and the Syrian province of Homs will hold a meeting on Monday to take the necessary measures in order to control the border.

A Mustaqbal Movement official said that the timing of the army operation is suspicious, saying that it came at Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali’s request.

Thousands of Syrian refugees have fled to Lebanon as the state cracks down on a popular revolt against President Bashar Assad’s regime.

In November, the Syrian army laced the Lebanese border with landmines in a bid to curb arms smuggling and hamper army defectors and refugees from fleeing.

Syrian troops have also staged deadly incursions into border villages in Lebanon.

The United Nations estimated earlier this month that more than 5,000 people have been killed in the crackdown since protests against Assad’s regime began in mid-March.