More arrests in second day of Beirut suburb crackdown

The Lebanese Army Wednesday pushed ahead with a crackdown on outlaws and wanted suspects in Beirut’s southern suburbs, arresting a number of individuals.
 
A military statement said “several Lebanese and a Palestinian” were arrested during raids in Hay al-Sellom, Haret Hreik and Laylaki.
 
The detainees are wanted for “opening fire” on citizens and Lebanese soldiers and for “using force” against security patrol officers, according to the statement.
 
Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk toured the southern suburbs Wednesday on the second day of a crackdown carried out jointly by the Lebanese Army, police and General Security.
 
Machnouk praised the security forces for their “quick progress” in enforcing the law.
 
“Thank God we were able in such a short time to provide security at a time when the region is in flames,” Machnouk told reporters in a midday news conference. “We are trying to keep Lebanon away from those fires.”
 
He said that the joint security force is comprised of 2,385 members carrying out the security plan for Beirut and its southern suburbs.
 
Machnouk pledged to push ahead with the plan despite the challenges facing Lebanon.
 
Residents have generally been supportive of the crackdown in the southern suburbs, which is affiliated with the Hezbollah movement.
 
Machnouk noted that despite the area's reputation as being controlled by Hezbollah, it remains Lebanese territory open to all citizens.
 
Separately, the military statement said the Lebanese Army detained 26 Syrian nationals in north and east Lebanon for entering the country illegally and for driving unlicensed vehicles.
 
The detainees, along with the confiscated vehicles, were referred to relevant authorities.