Beirut, Lebanon – The Lebanese Army announced on Saturday that it had detained 165 Syrian refugees over two days for residing illegally.
In a statement posted on X, the army said its units arrested 109 refugees in the Zahraani area near Sidon and in the Al-Arid area in Al-Qasr district, and another 56 during raids on refugee camps in Anfeh, Bchmizzine, and Amioun in Koura district. Additional arrests were made at the Madfoun checkpoint in Batroun and in Dora, Metn district.
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The army confirmed that legal measures have been initiated against those detained. Meanwhile, Syrian protesters gathered at the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing near Damascus, demanding the Syrian government intervene to secure the release of Syrians held in Lebanese prisons, especially Roumieh Prison in Beirut.
Syria’s Ministry of Information denied reports of planned escalation against Lebanon, stressing that resolving the detainees’ issue remains a top priority through official channels.
