The Lebanese army said on Friday, November 13, that its forces had raided a weapons warehouse in the Musharrafieh area of Beirut's southern suburbs, seizing a large quantity of weapons and military ammunition and arresting one person during the operation.

Source: Anadolu Agency

In a statement, the Army Command said its Intelligence Directorate carried out what it called a qualitative security operation after precise monitoring and follow-up of weapons transfers and trafficking operations.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The man arrested in the raid is a Lebanese citizen identified by the army only by the initials A.A. The army said the seized weapons and ammunition were handed over to the relevant authorities, and that an investigation with the detainee had been opened under the supervision of the competent judicial authorities.

Source: LBCI

The army did not identify the owner of the seized weapons, did not say whether they were linked to any organisation or armed group, and gave no details of their exact type or quantity, Anadolu reported.

Source: Anadolu Agency

A raid in Hezbollah's stronghold — but no owner named

Beirut's southern suburbs are considered Hezbollah's main stronghold in Lebanon and the centre of its political, popular and security influence, housing institutions and headquarters affiliated with the group. The army, however, did not link Friday's operation to that backdrop, and did not connect the raid to the government's arms-control decision.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The raid comes amid a continuing national debate over Hezbollah's weapons. On March 2, the Lebanese government ordered an immediate ban on Hezbollah's military and security activities, declaring them unlawful and instructing the group to surrender its weapons to the state and limit itself to political activity. The government directed security agencies to enforce the decision and tasked the army with continuing a plan to bring weapons north of the Litani River in southern Lebanon under state control.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Hezbollah refuses to surrender its weapons while Israeli forces remain on Lebanese territory and Israeli attacks continue, arguing its arms are needed to confront Israel. In a televised speech on November 11, its secretary general, Sheikh Naim Qassem, said there should be no discussion of a state monopoly on arms or of Hezbollah's disarmament as long as Israel continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon.

Source: Press TV

What happens next will depend on that investigation — and on whether the army names an owner. Until it does, Friday's raid stands as the latest step in the state's push to extend its control over weapons in Lebanon, in the very district where that question is most sensitive.