Army Arrests Dozens of Syrians for Illegally Entering Lebanon

Syrians who were detained in August for illegally entering Lebanon. (Army Command)
Syrians who were detained in August for illegally entering Lebanon. (Army Command)
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Army Arrests Dozens of Syrians for Illegally Entering Lebanon

Syrians who were detained in August for illegally entering Lebanon. (Army Command)
Syrians who were detained in August for illegally entering Lebanon. (Army Command)

Security forces in Lebanon have continued their crackdown on people who have illegally entered the country.

The army raided several camps in the eastern Bekaa region, arresting dozens of Syrians.

The Army Command said on Saturday that a military unit, backed by the intelligence bureau, carried out various raids against Syrian refugee camps in the Bekaa, detaining 43 Syrians for illegally entering Lebanon and failing to produce valid documents.

Investigations are underway with the detainees, it added.

Lebanon has been stepping up its crackdown against illegal activity by refugees in the country.

Earlier this week, a commercial store, run by Syrian refugees, was shut down in the Baalbek-Hermel region because the Syrian owners were operating it without a permit.

Another Syrian, identified as M.A., was arrested for the possession of counterfeit identity documents.

Meanwhile, former President Michel Suleiman demanded the formation of an international coalition that would pressure the international community to resolve the refugee crisis in Lebanon.

In a statement, he noted that Cyprus has approached the European Union and United Nations over the refugee problem and their burden on Lebanon.

Coordination is necessary with nearby countries that have been affected by the refugee waves in order to form a coalition that would pressure the international community, he went on to say.

Lebanon’s caretaker government adopted several measures last week to tackle the crisis. It decided to form a ministerial delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, that would visit Syria to discuss the refugee issue.

Among the measures adopted was intensifying land and marine border security, carrying out a complete tally of refugees and removing all of their violations against state infrastructure.



Arab, International Momentum to Support Lebanon Kicks Off with Macron’s Visit

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace (Reuters)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace (Reuters)
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Arab, International Momentum to Support Lebanon Kicks Off with Macron’s Visit

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace (Reuters)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace (Reuters)

The election of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and the designation of Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam to form the first government of the new presidential term have drawn unprecedented Arab and international attention. This growing interest is reflected in a series of high-level visits, starting with French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Beirut on Friday.
While Spanish Foreign Minister and EU High Representative Josep Borrell visited Lebanese officials on Wednesday, coinciding with similar meetings held by Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to arrive in Beirut on Saturday. Additionally, Arab and international officials are set to visit the Lebanese capital starting next week.
In comments to Asharq Al-Awsat, former Lebanese Ambassador to Washington Antoine Chedid stated that Lebanon “is of great importance to the region and the world, and the changes happening in the country are part of broader regional transformations.”
“International interest in Lebanon didn’t begin today. It became evident during the recent Israeli war, when the United States, Saudi Arabia, and France played pivotal roles in achieving a ceasefire,” he remarked.
Chedid further noted that Macron’s visit will mark the start of a series of trips by international and Arab leaders expressing their firm support for Lebanon’s state institutions, including its president, government, army, and constitutional bodies.
“We are witnessing an unprecedented phase of international support for Lebanon’s presidency and state institutions,” he said. “What matters now is for Lebanon to embrace this support positively.”
Former minister Rashid Derbas highlighted that international attention to Lebanon “clearly indicates that the country has moved past its state of unrest and security disruptions and is no longer a platform for undermining regional stability.”
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Derbas said: “Macron’s visit, followed by the arrival of Arab and global leaders, restores confidence among Lebanese citizens. Electing a president and forming a government has reignited hope.”
He added: “This renewed openness paves the way for assisting Lebanon in investing in stability, development, and conflict resolution, steering the country away from chaos and disorder.”
Derbas stressed that certain factions, “particularly the Shiite duo, have failed to recognize regional changes and shifting power dynamics, clinging instead to rhetoric that clouds their judgment.”
He criticized their rejection of past opportunities, stating: “When the Shiite duo had strong leverage in choosing the president and forming the government, they dismissed all proposals, squandering opportunities until external forces imposed decisions on them.”
Derbas expressed hope for an end to the cycle of missed opportunities and constitutional violations, which he said have “isolated Lebanon from its allies under the pretext of sovereignty, while maintaining a rhetoric about liberating Palestine and weakening Israel.”
The decision by the Shiite duo (Amal Movement and Hezbollah) to boycott non-binding consultations has cast a shadow over the atmosphere as international and Arab officials prepare to visit Lebanon. Political analyst Toufic Hindi warned that the duo’s choice to boycott consultations “sends a discouraging message and does not align with the will of the Lebanese people or the intentions of Lebanon’s Arab and international allies.”
Hindi praised Aoun’s inaugural speech, describing it as “a source of hope for the Lebanese people and a signal of reassurance for the international community.” Similarly, he commended Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam for outlining a clear framework for state-building during his speech at the presidential palace.