Lebanese authorities detain people who were planning rocket attacks on Israel
Lebanese authorities detained several people who were allegedly planning to launch rockets into Israel and seized the weapons, the military said Sunday.
The army said the arrests were linked to other detentions announced earlier this week. It added that as military intelligence was investigating that case they got information that a new rocket attack was being planned.
The army said troops raided an apartment near the southern port city of Sidon and seized some of the rockets and the launchers and detained several people who were involved in the operation. It said they were referred to judicial authorities.
Authorities on Wednesday
detained several people
, including a number of Palestinians, who were allegedly involved in firing rockets toward Israel in two separate attacks in late March that triggered
intense Israeli airstrikes
on parts of Lebanon. Lebanon's Hezbollah group denied at the time that it was behind the firing of rockets.
Meanwhile on Sunday, a series of Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed two people, the Lebanese Civil Defense said in a statement. The Israeli army said in a statement that it killed Hussein Ali Nasr, whom it described as the deputy head of Hezbollah's Unit 4400. Israel said Nasr helped smuggle weapons and funds into Lebanon via 'Iranian operatives,' including through Beirut airport.
In a separate incident, three Lebanese soldiers were killed after ammunition a Lebanese army vehicle was carrying exploded, the army said in a statement. The circumstances in which the explosion happened were unclear.
Since a November ceasefire ended a 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli airstrikes have killed dozens of people in Lebanon including civilians and Hezbollah members. Israel says it's targeting Hezbollah holdouts in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah leader
Naim Kassem
, who fled to Tehran last October said Friday that its
fighters will not disarm
as long as Israeli troops remain in southern Lebanon and the Israeli air force regularly violates Lebanese air space.
AP/ Yahoo
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Manar
40 minutes ago
- Al Manar
Lebanon's President Visits Iraq: Discussions Tackle Bilateral Ties, Regional Issues
The Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Sunday visited Iraq, meeting the senior officials, including the PM Mohammad Shia Al-Sudani and President Abdul Latif Rashid. During a joint press conference, Al-Sudani reaffirmed Iraq's support for Lebanon's sovereignty, unity, and stability, pledging to advocate for the country during Iraq's presidency of the Arab League, and rejected the ongoing Israeli violations of Lebanese territory. 'Iraq contributed $20M to the Arab Fund for Lebanon's reconstruction,' he added. Al-Sudani also welcomed the formation of Lebanon's new government as a crucial step toward restoring political order, identifying energy, telecommunications, trade, and private-sector development as 'opportunities that can serve both.' In turn, Aoun expressed appreciation for Iraq's continued assistance, particularly during the recent Israeli war, highlighting joint security challenges, including counterterrorism, as a top priority. Aoun further condemned Israel's ongoing military campaign on Gaza as 'inhumane' and called on the international community to act. 'What is happening in Gaza is unacceptable. The global community must intervene immediately.' President Aoun also met with his Iraqi counterpart who reiterated the Iraqi support for Lebanon, underlining the bilateral ties in the various domains. The Lebanese President also hailed the roadmap made by the Supreme Iraqi Cleric Imam Sayyed Ali Al-Sistani to consecrate reform, corruption fight and the centrality of the military decision. President Aoun had said upon arrival: 'Today, I accept the invitation of my brother, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Iraq, Abdul Latif Rashid, which I was honored to receive following our meeting in Cairo on the sidelines of the extraordinary Arab Summit. My visit to Iraq will be an opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, a milestone that confirms the depth of the fraternal and historical relations between Lebanon and Iraq. On this visit, I carry with me deep feelings of appreciation for the Iraqi leadership and the brotherly Iraqi people, in appreciation for the continuous support and assistance they have provided to Lebanon, especially during these difficult times and hardships.' He continued: 'We highly value the Iraqi oil shipments, which have been a vital pillar of support for Lebanon, and we consider them a noble expression of sincere Arab brotherhood. I congratulate Iraq on its success in hosting the Arab Summit and the Economic Development Summit, reflecting its leadership position and pivotal role in strengthening joint Arab action. The talks I will hold today will confirm the convergence of views between our two countries, particularly regarding security cooperation and the fight against terrorism and extremism. We believe that security in Lebanon and Iraq is interconnected, and that confronting challenges requires concerted efforts and the exchange of expertise and information between the relevant institutions.' He concluded: 'My visit confirms Lebanon's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Iraq in all fields—political, economic, cultural, and security—for the good of our two peoples and the stability of our region.'
Ya Libnan
an hour ago
- Ya Libnan
IAEA report exposes Iran's secret activities. Has enough enriched uranium to make 9 bombs
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi visits Iran's nuclear achievements exhibition, in Tehran, Iran, April 17, 2025. Iranian Atomic Organisation/WANA . Iran has enough enriched uranium to make nine nuclear bombs if enriched further , the report reveals (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS Iran carried out secret nuclear activities with material not declared to the U.N. nuclear watchdog at three locations that have long been under investigation, the watchdog said in a wide-ranging, confidential report to member states seen by Reuters. The findings in the 'comprehensive' International Atomic Energy Agency report requested by the agency's 35-nation Board of Governors in November pave the way for a push by the United States, Britain, France and Germany for the board to declare Iran in violation of its non-proliferation obligations. A resolution would infuriate Iran and could further complicate nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington. Using the IAEA report's findings, the four Western powers plan to submit a draft resolution for the board to adopt at its next meeting the week of June 9, diplomats say. It would be the first time in almost 20 years Iran has formally been found in non-compliance. Iran's foreign ministry and the Iranian nuclear agency rejected the report, calling it 'politically motivated' in a joint statement. They said Tehran will take 'appropriate measures' in response to any effort to take action against the country at the Board of Governors meeting, state media reported, without elaborating. Tehran says it wants to master nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and has long denied accusations by Western powers that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Iran has enough enriched uranium to make nine nuclear bombs if enriched further While many of the findings relate to activities dating back decades and have been made before, the IAEA report's conclusions were more definitive. It summarised developments in recent years and pointed more clearly towards coordinated, secret activities, some of which were relevant to producing nuclear weapons. It also spelled out that Iran's cooperation with IAEA continues to be 'less than satisfactory' in 'a number of respects'. The IAEA is still seeking explanations for uranium traces found years ago at two of four sites it has been investigating. Three hosted secret experiments, it found. The IAEA has concluded that 'these three locations, and other possible related locations, were part of an undeclared structured nuclear program carried out by Iran until the early 2000s and that some activities used undeclared nuclear material', the report said. Nuclear material and/or heavily contaminated equipment from that program was stored at the fourth site, Turquzabad, between 2009 and 2018, it said. 'The Agency concludes that Iran did not declare nuclear material and nuclear-related activities at three undeclared locations in Iran, specifically, Lavisan-Shian, Varamin, and Turquzabad,' the report said. At Lavisan-Shian in Tehran, a disc made of uranium metal was 'used in the production of explosively-driven neutron sources' at least twice in 2003, a process designed to initiate the explosion in a nuclear weapon , the report said, adding that it was part of 'small-scale' tests. The report is likely to lead to Iran being referred to the U.N. Security Council, though that would probably happen at a later IAEA board meeting, diplomats said. More immediately, it is likely to lead to Iran again accelerating or expanding its rapidly advancing nuclear program , as it has done after previous rebukes at the board. It could also further complicate talks with the United States aimed at reining in that program. URANIUM ENRICHMENT A separate IAEA report sent to member states on Saturday said Iran's stock of uranium enriched to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% of weapons grade, had grown by roughly half to 408.6 kg . That is enough, if enriched further, for nine nuclear weapons , according to an IAEA yardstick. Both IAEA reports said enrichment to such a high level was 'of serious concern' since it is the only country to do so without producing nuclear weapons. Israel, which has long urged strong action against Iran's nuclear programme, said the IAEA report showed Tehran was determined to complete its nuclear weapons program . Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the world should act now to stop Iran from doing this. it is the only country to enrich so much uranium without producing nuclear weapons. U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA have long believed Iran had a secret, coordinated nuclear weapons program that it halted in 2003. Iran denies ever having had one. Separately on Saturday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said his Omani counterpart presented elements of a U.S. proposal for a nuclear deal between Tehran and Washington during a short visit to Tehran. In Washington, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said later on Saturday that President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff 'has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it's in their best interest to accept it.' She declined to provide further details. Araqchi said in a post on X that Iran 'will respond to the U.S. proposal in line with the principles, national interests and rights of people of Iran'. His statement came ahead of an anticipated sixth round of talks between Washington and Tehran. The date and venue of talks have not yet been announced. (Reuters)
Ya Libnan
2 hours ago
- Ya Libnan
Hezbollah's rocket commander killed in Israeli drone strike in south Lebanon
Israel killed Hezbollah 's Shaqif region commander, Mohammad Ali Jamoul, early Saturday morning at around 5 a.m. in Deir al-Zahrani in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military announced hours later. Jamoul was the commander of Hezbollah 's rocket array in the region, Israeli said. National News Agency (NNA) said a man was killed when an Israeli drone targeted his car as he was heading to pray at a mosque in Deir al-Zahrani, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Israeli border. Israel has continued to bomb Lebanon despite the November 27 truce that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, including two months of open war. Israel claimed that during the conflict Jamoul was involved in efforts to reestablish Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure' in south Lebanon. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hezbollah fighters were to pull back north of the Litani River, some 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border, and dismantle military infrastructure . According to to UN Resolution 1701 all militia in Lebanon including Hezbollah and the Palestinians were to disarm and hand over all their arms to the Lebanese Army . Israel was to withdraw all forces from Lebanon but it has kept troops in five areas it deems 'strategic'. The Lebanese Army has deployed in the south and has been dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure.
