A judicial source said 23 people, including Hezbollah members and civilians, have been arrested so far following a government decision to ban military actions by the party.
The arrests have been made across Lebanon after individual weapons, machine guns, and various types of military equipment were found in their possession.
The detainees are being questioned by army intelligence and the military police, under the supervision of the government commissioner to the military court, Judge Claude Ghanem, the source told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Investigations with five suspects have concluded and they have been referred to the military judiciary ahead of legal proceedings.
The shift extends beyond the number of arrests to the procedures themselves. Before the government ban, courts often limited action to confiscating the weapon and leaving the armed individual under investigation or releasing him after a pledge not to repeat the violation.
That approach has now changed. Authorities confiscate the weapon and detain the person regardless of identity or political affiliation, which is a clear sign of official determination to enforce the government decision without exception, including for Hezbollah members.
Despite the tougher stance, the identity of those launching rockets and drones toward Israel remains unknown. Security agencies are working to identify those responsible for the launches, which constitute a direct breach of the cabinet decision.
No arrests have been announced in connection with rocket or drone launches so far, security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. Arrests linked to the transportation of weapons, however, are occurring daily as part of a wide security plan covering all regions.
In recent hours, security agencies apprehended individuals transporting a Kornet anti-tank missile, a destructive weapon capable of striking armored targets with precision.
The seizures reflect growing official and public concern, highlighting the scale of the security challenge and the pressure on authorities to enforce the government’s strict decision.
Most of those detained were stopped while traveling with convoys of displaced people from the south and the Bekaa. Security sources said the presence of armed individuals among displaced civilians poses a risk to the safety of shelters and raises concern among host communities.
Authorities fear such individuals could be targeted by Israeli strikes inside shelters, while tensions could also arise with host communities in Beirut, Mount Lebanon and other areas.
Judicial and security agencies have intensified coordination at the highest levels. Sources from both sides say investigations are exploring every possible lead that could expose networks involved in transporting weapons or launching rockets.
The military prosecution is closely monitoring the preliminary investigations but is carefully reviewing reports before filing charges, the judicial source said.
Launching judicial proceedings requires evidence strong enough to support suspicions, a process that can delay the announcement of results and the full number of arrests.
