Lebanese Armed Forces seizes rockets allegedly smuggled from Syria amid heightened border security and diplomatic talks with Israel

05/08/2026

BEIRUT — The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) announced that troops seized 122 mm Grad rockets and a pickup truck allegedly used to transport them during an operation on the outskirts of Arsal, near Lebanon’s border with Syria.

According to a military statement, two Lebanese nationals suspected of involvement in a weapons-smuggling network were arrested. Follow-up raids led to the seizure of additional ammunition and military equipment, while the confiscated weapons were handed over to judicial authorities and an investigation was launched under judicial supervision.

The LAF said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to monitor and disrupt cross-border smuggling networks operating along Lebanon’s eastern frontier with Syria, a mountainous and difficult-to-control area that has historically been used for the movement of weapons, people and contraband.

The seizure comes amid increased pressure on Lebanese authorities to strengthen border security as the country navigates heightened regional tensions and seeks to expand state control over armed activity. The LAF said raids, patrols, and checkpoints resulted in the arrest of 20 people, including 18 Syrians who had allegedly entered the country illegally through the Wadi Marhej and Ras Baalbek areas.

Similar concerns over weapons trafficking emerged on the Syrian side of the border, where Syria’s Internal Security Forces announced the discovery of several Grad rockets hidden in agricultural fields near al-Hara in the southern province of Druco (Daraa) on Monday. Security personnel secured and removed the rockets after responding to a report from a landowner. Authorities did not disclose who had hidden the weapons or whether the cache was connected to the rockets intercepted in Lebanon.

The security campaign in Lebanon coincides with a sensitive diplomatic period, as Lebanese and Israeli delegations hold US-mediated talks in Rome over the implementation of a framework agreement reached in June.

The agreement calls for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, expanded deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the dismantling of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in designated pilot zones. Washington has emphasized strengthening Lebanese state authority as a central component of the framework, while Lebanese officials have said expanding the LAF’s role requires continued international support. Hezbollah has rejected the negotiations and opposed efforts to disarm the group.

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The rocket seizure near Arsal underscores the security challenges facing Lebanon as it attempts to curb weapons trafficking from Syria while preparing for a broader role for the army across the country.

Lebanese security officials have repeatedly warned that the eastern border remains vulnerable due to rugged terrain and long-established informal crossings.