Latest news with #HigherDefenseCouncil
L'Orient-Le Jour
06-05-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Hamas delivers third suspect of March rocket fire towards Israel
Lebanese Army announced Tuesday that Hamas had handed over a third Palestinian suspect, allegedly involved in the two rocket firing operations towards Israel on March 22 and 28, 2025. The unclaimed rocket firing operations had triggered severe and deadly responses from the Israeli army in Lebanon, and Beirut has since issued a historic warning to Hamas against "using Lebanese territory to conduct any action undermining Lebanese national security." "The Intelligence Directorate (of the army) received from Hamas the Palestinian (Q.S.), at the entrance of the al-Bass camp, in Tyre," the army said in a statement published on X, while recalling that the Palestinian movement had already handed over two suspects allegedly also involved in this matter, on Sunday and Monday. The statement specifies that these arrests are taking place "as part of the security follow-up and ongoing coordination conducted by the Intelligence Directorate to arrest other individuals involved (in the rocket fire), in accordance with the recommendation of the Higher Defense Council and the decision of the Lebanese government." On May 2, the Higher Defense Council warned Hamas for the first time "not to use Lebanese territory to conduct any action undermining Lebanese national security, under penalty of taking the strictest measures and arrangements to end any violation of Lebanese sovereignty." An ally of Hezbollah, which opened a front against Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, Hamas had claimed several attacks against the Hebrew state from southern Lebanon during the war. On April 16, the Lebanese army announced it had arrested members of a "group composed of Lebanese and Palestinians" suspected of being responsible for the shootings. Three of these suspects were members of Hamas, according to a security source. On April 20, the troops announced they had thwarted a new shell firing from southern Lebanon towards Israel and arrested several suspects in the Saida region.
L'Orient-Le Jour
05-05-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Lebanese Army says Hamas hands over rocket fire suspect
Lebanon's army said Sunday Hamas had handed over a Palestinian suspected of involvement in rocket fire at Israel, days after authorities warned the militant group against harming the country's security. Hamas handed over the man "at the entrance to Ain al-Hilweh," an army statement said, referring to a restive Palestinian refugee camp on the outskirts of the southern city of Saida. "He is suspected of involvement in two rocket launches towards" Israel from Lebanon on March 22 and 28, the statement said. Israel responded to the rocket fire by bombing southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hamas ally Hezbollah holds sway. Israel's military has continued to strike Lebanon despite a November cease-fire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, including two months of all-out war. The Israeli military often says it has targeted Hezbollah operatives or infrastructure, but also occasionally Hamas members or other allies. Sunday's army statement said the suspect's handover came based on the "recommendation of the Higher Defense Council and the Lebanese government decision on warning against the use of Lebanese territory to carry out any action that threatens Lebanese national security." The council issued the recommendation on Friday, warning that "the utmost measures" would be taken to stop any action that violates Lebanese sovereignty. Last month, the army arrested several Lebanese and Palestinian individuals accused of involvement in the March launches. A Lebanese security source told AFP at the time that three Hamas members had been arrested. No group claimed responsibility for the rocket launches, and Hezbollah denied any involvement.
LBCI
04-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Army Intelligence receives suspect from Hamas over rocket fire from Lebanon
Based on a recommendation from the Higher Defense Council and a Lebanese government decision warning against the use of Lebanese territory for actions that threaten national security, the Lebanese Army's Intelligence Directorate has taken delivery of a suspect from Hamas. The suspect, identified by his initials M.G., was handed over at the entrance to Ain al-Hilweh camp in Sidon. He is accused of involvement in two rocket attacks toward Israeli territory on March 22 and March 28, 2025. The handover followed a series of contacts between Army Intelligence and General Security. An investigation has been launched under the supervision of the relevant judicial authorities.
L'Orient-Le Jour
04-05-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Historical warning by Lebanon to Hamas: A step towards disarming Palestinian camps
President of the Republic Joseph Aoun presided over his first meeting of the Higher Defense Council on Friday, with the disarmament of Palestinian factions inside refugee camps topping the agenda. The council also addressed the handover of Hamas members suspected of firing rockets at Israel last March — a breach of the November cease-fire that triggered deadly retaliatory strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs. In recent weeks, the Lebanese army has arrested two Hamas members and a Lebanese national in connection with the the meeting, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stressed 'the necessity of handing over illegal weapons and not allowing Hamas or any other actor to compromise security and national stability.' Aoun added, 'No attempt to make Lebanon a platform for destabilization will be tolerated.'Maj. Gen. Mohammad Moustapha,...
L'Orient-Le Jour
03-05-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Higher Defense Council meets in Baabda
The Higher Defense Council is meeting Friday morning at the Baabda Palace, under the leadership of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, to discuss several security issues, particularly in anticipation of municipal elections, and the issue of Hamas weapons in Lebanon, according to consistent reports circulating in the media The Council began its meeting shortly after 9 a.m., following a tête-à-tête between the head of state and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. According to information from the channel al-Jadeed, the Council members will consider the issue of a prohibition on any military action by Hamas, which would then be held accountable in case of violation. This comes as elements of the Palestinian Islamist movement are suspected of firing from southern Lebanon towards Israel on March 22 and 28. These rocket launches, which were never claimed, triggered a deadly response from the Israeli army. Meanwhile, the channel MTV notes that the issue of Hezbollah's weapons will not be addressed during the meeting. This topic has been highly debated amidst Israeli and American pressures for the state to seize the arsenal of the Shiite party, which the latter refuses, asserting a preference for "dialogue" on the national defense strategy. The Higher Defense Council is chaired by the president of the Republic, the prime minister serves as vice president, and it also includes the ministers of defense, foreign affairs, finance, interior, and economy.
