Latest news with #SyrianNationals
LBCI
7 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Israeli airstrikes kill 12 in Lebanon's Bekaa, including Syrian refugees
Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes on the Wadi Faara area in northern Bekaa on Tuesday, with one of the raids targeting a Syrian refugee camp. At least 12 people were killed in the attack, including seven Syrian nationals, while eight others were wounded.
LBCI
15-07-2025
- LBCI
Lebanese Army arrests 144 Syrians for illegal entry, detains multiple Lebanese suspects in raids
The Lebanese Army announced on Tuesday that its units, backed by Intelligence Directorate patrols, conducted multiple raids in Mount Lebanon and the South, resulting in a wave of arrests targeting both undocumented individuals and wanted criminals. According to the army's statement, 144 Syrian nationals were apprehended in Falougha in Baabda district, Boqaata, and Samqaniyeh in the Chouf district for illegally residing in Lebanon. Additionally, a Lebanese citizen was arrested for interfering with army personnel during their operations. In a separate operation, intelligence patrols arrested four Lebanese nationals. In Galerie Semaan in Baabda, a citizen was detained on charges including arms trafficking, firing weapons, issuing threats, and extortion. A pistol and live ammunition were confiscated from his possession. In Kfar Roummane in Nabatieh, three individuals were arrested for firing weapons and provoking disturbances. Authorities also seized firearms and ammunition from their homes. Another patrol detained a suspect in Ras Osta, Jbeil, after a surveillance and chase operation revealed that he was driving a stolen vehicle. All confiscated items were handed over to the relevant authorities, and investigations are underway under the supervision of the competent judiciary.
The Sun
30-06-2025
- The Sun
At least nine girls as young as 11 sexually assaulted in public pool by ‘family of Syrian men who groped them in water'
AT LEAST nine girls as young as 11 were sexually assaulted in a public swimming pool in Hesse, Germany. Cops arrested four suspects aged 18 to 28 who are Syrian nationals, the Southeast Hesse Police Headquarters confirmed to German newspaper Bild. 1 The heinous attacks occurred last Sunday at the Barbarossabad swimming pool. Several girls are said to have reported to pool staff that they had been assaulted by a group of men in the whirlpool area. Two of the men arrested are reportedly related. Criminal charges have since been filed against all of the suspects, who have also been banned from the pool. Five young girls initially came forward to report the incidents, but as the assaults became public knowledge, more bravely came forward. The victims also testified that they had been sexually harassed. A total of eight girls aged just 11 to 16 were victims of sexual assault at the pool. It currently cannot be ruled out that other girls or women were affected, reports claim. .
LBCI
04-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Overcrowded and overlooked: Lebanon's prisons at breaking point
Report by Mirna Daou, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi Lebanon's prison system is reaching a breaking point, with overcrowding escalating into a full-blown crisis. Despite mounting pressure, state efforts to address the situation remain sluggish, even as conditions inside detention facilities deteriorate and the financial burden on the government grows. Roumieh Prison, the country's largest and most overcrowded facility, has resumed court hearings, with three exceptional criminal chambers now holding sessions weekly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. A major contributor to the prison congestion is the high number of incarcerated Syrians. According to the latest figures from the Internal Security Forces (ISF), 1,698 Syrian nationals are currently detained in Lebanese prisons, including individuals accused of terrorism-related offenses. Of these, 1,076 have received final verdicts, while the remaining 622 are still awaiting trial. However, the exact number involved in major crimes remains unclear due to delays in completing a full classification of the detainees. A recent meeting between Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani yielded promises of cooperation, specifically regarding the potential repatriation of Syrian prisoners. Yet, so far, no tangible progress has been made. Key obstacles include the absence of a formal legal framework between Beirut and Damascus, which is necessary to initiate transfers and clarify exceptions for certain cases. Under discussion are potential legal exclusions for prisoners convicted of serious crimes, but those convicted of offenses such as theft or illegal entry are expected to be returned to Syria to serve the remainder of their sentences. This paralysis raises concerns about whether the delay is due to legitimate legal challenges or simply a reflection of the institutional inefficiency that frequently stalls progress in Lebanon. With Syrian detainees comprising roughly 28% of the entire prison population, the consequences of continued inaction are dire, and the strain on Lebanon's penal system shows no sign of easing anytime soon.
The National
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Saudi Arabia seizes 1.5 million Captagon pills hidden in tables
Saudi Arabia on Thursday announced the interception of 1.5 million Captagon pills in Riyadh hidden in a shipment of tables. The Ministry of Interior said the operation led to the arrest of three Syrians and one Saudi citizen. The shipment's country of origin was not disclosed. 'The General Directorate of Narcotics Control seized 1,520,000 tablets of the narcotic substance amphetamine hidden inside a shipment of tables in the Riyadh region,' a statement read. 'The intended recipients were arrested in the Riyadh and Eastern regions and include three Syrian nationals and one Saudi citizen." Security officials urged citizens and residents to report any information related to drug trafficking or distribution. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have stepped up efforts to combat the smuggling of Captagon, an amphetamine-like stimulant that has raised alarm across the region due to its widespread use. Syria was the region's primary producer of Captagon until the fall of former president Bashar Al Assad in December, although he had denied his government's involvement. The new administration has pledged to crack down on the production and trafficking of the drug. In 2021, it was estimated the Syrian government generated more than $5 billion from the Captagon trade. The drug is transported to some Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, leading to a string of high-profile seizures. In February, Saudi authorities arrested 15 state employees in connection with three criminal networks involved in drug trafficking. A Ministry of Interior official said a total of 19 people were detained in the Asir, Jazan and Eastern provinces. The groups were allegedly involved in smuggling drugs across the kingdom and laundering the proceeds. Those arrested included five Interior Ministry employees, seven from the Tax and Customs Authority and three from the Ministry of Defence. A month earlier, Saudi Arabia executed six Iranians convicted of drug smuggling, state news agency SPA reported, an act that prompted protests from the government in Tehran. In 2023, Saudi authorities launched a widely publicised anti-drugs campaign involving raids, arrests and public awareness drives.
