Lebanese Army detains suspects linked to rocket fire at Israel amid border tensions

The Lebanese army has arrested several individuals in connection with recent rocket fire launched from southern Lebanon toward northern Israel, as border tensions escalate following Israeli airstrikes on southern Beirut.

The Lebanese military announced the arrests during a visit by Army Commander-in-Chief General Rodolphe Haykal to the South Litani Sector Command in Tyr. Haykal stated that the suspects are currently under investigation and that further inquiries are ongoing to determine responsibility for the rocket attacks, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"Rocket fire from Lebanese territory toward the occupied Palestinian territories serves the enemy," Haykal remarked. "Our duty is to protect Lebanon and its citizens, regardless of their affiliation."

Haykal also commended the army units deployed in southern Lebanon, highlighting their crucial role in bolstering the nation's security. He noted that the primary barrier to fully deploying the Lebanese army and maintaining the ceasefire is "the Israeli enemy's continued occupation of Lebanese territory, its repeated attacks, and violations of national sovereignty."

The Lebanese army chief reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to upholding UN Resolution 1701, which mandates a ceasefire, and emphasized coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in accordance with directives from Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and the Lebanese government.

Local media outlets reported that several individuals, including Syrians and Palestinians, were detained near the area where the rockets were fired but were later released after interrogation.

The recent flare-up in tensions follows Israeli airstrikes on the southern Beirut suburb of Hadath. This marked the first such Israeli attack since the November 2024 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, which ended a brief but intense period of conflict. The Israeli military had issued evacuation warnings to the residents of the targeted building more than an hour before the strike and conducted initial warning shots before carrying out the main attack.

Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, however, denied any involvement in the rocket fire from southern Lebanon, maintaining that it remains committed to the ceasefire. The group accused Israel of "fabricating pretexts to continue its aggression on Lebanon."

Despite a relative calm on Saturday following the deadly escalation that left at least six people dead in southern Lebanon on Friday, tensions remained high. A French UNIFIL patrol was fired upon by Israeli positions while inspecting an earth mound constructed by Israeli forces in Wadi Qatmoun, near the border village of Rmeich in the Bint Jbeil district.

In another incident, Israeli soldiers opened fire with machine guns toward the eastern neighborhoods of Kfarchouba in the Hasbaya district, causing damage to homes and vehicles. Israeli forces also dropped two stun grenades in Yaroun, a village in the Bint Jbeil district, although no injuries were reported.

By Vafa Guliyeva