Several people accused of firing rockets at Israel in late March have been arrested by the Lebanese army.
These arrests come as Israeli forces continue a growing air campaign across Lebanon and other parts of the region. The Lebanese military announced that it had carried out multiple raids, seized weapons and a vehicle, and detained suspects believed to be linked to the rocket launches.
The arrests follow rocket fire from southern Lebanon that triggered a wave of Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli response included daily bombing runs across southern Lebanon, hitting both civilian areas and targets associated with armed groups. The Lebanese military has not released the exact number of arrests but confirmed that raids were carried out in several locations.
Officials in Beirut say some of those arrested are Palestinian nationals who were being questioned about their possible ties to the attacks. Although unnamed security sources claimed links to Hamas, the group has denied involvement. A Hamas official acknowledged that some members were detained recently but insisted they were released and not connected to the rocket launches. One man was reportedly arrested only for carrying an unlicensed weapon.
Hezbollah also rejected responsibility for the March rocket fire. The group, which began its own attacks on Israel in October 2023 after the war in Gaza intensified, said it had no role in that specific incident. Since then, Israel has launched dozens of air raids inside Lebanon, resulting in casualties among both Hezbollah fighters and civilians.
The United Nations has raised concerns about the growing number of civilian deaths in Lebanon. As of this week, at least 71 civilians, including women and children, have reportedly been killed in Israeli strikes since a ceasefire agreement was put in place. Lebanese officials claim that Israel has violated that truce thousands of times, causing further destruction and loss of life.
The situation has escalated well beyond the Lebanese border. In response to what they call the ongoing massacre in Gaza, armed groups in Lebanon and Yemen have fired missiles at Israel. These groups, including the Houthis and Hezbollah, say their actions are in solidarity with the Palestinians and have offered to stop if Israel halts its attacks.
Instead of de-escalating, Israel has expanded its military campaign into neighboring countries. Airstrikes have been reported not only in Lebanon and Yemen but also in Syria and Iran. Analysts believe Israel’s aim is to suppress any forces seen as opposing its military goals. Human rights experts warn that the conflict is now affecting the entire region and continues to put thousands of civilian lives at risk.