The Lebanese Army announced on Thursday the arrest of several individuals involved in smuggling weapons and ammunition from Syria, following armed clashes with a group of smugglers near the town of Aiha – Marj al-Tout, in the Rashaya district of the Beqaa Governorate.

In a statement issued by the Army’s Directorate of Orientation, the military confirmed that “army units engaged in an exchange of fire with the smugglers as they attempted to cross into Lebanese territory.” Several light weapons and rounds of ammunition were seized, while other suspects managed to flee back across the border.

The area of Rashaya is known to be one of the main unofficial border crossings used by smugglers operating between Lebanon and Syria. The region regularly witnesses attempts to smuggle arms and contraband, posing a serious threat to internal security amid ongoing regional tensions.

The Lebanese Army affirmed that it is continuing its security operations along the eastern border, aiming to dismantle smuggling networks and apprehend those involved. The army stressed that it “will not tolerate any threat to Lebanese sovereignty.”

This operation comes at a time of heightened security vigilance along Lebanon’s shared border with Syria, reflecting broader concerns over instability in the region.