Search ongoing for Aalmat-Jbeil incident offenders

The ISF General Directorate announced on Monday that after the attack against its patrol in Aalmat-Jbeil on Friday, many raids were conducted after which 10 suspects were arrested.          

The arrestees were later released on judicial bonds for lack of evidence.                  

The Directorate added that the security rifles that were seized during the incident were returned two hours after the clash had occurred.                                 

Eight search warrants were also issued against those with a possible involvement with security apparatuses on the hunt for the offenders.

Friday 28 September, young members from the Awwad family opened fire at an ISF patrol in the town of Almat in Byblos (Jbeil) when the patrol prevented them from chopping down the town’s forests.              

In the details, an ISF patrol from the Tourzaya police station arrived in the town to prevent young men from chopping down trees, when a number of gunmen seized their weapons.                  

Security forces intervened immediately and got into a gunfire exchange with the Awwad family members.  They then initiated the chase which yielded results by the evening.                   

Later in the day, the security forces arrested a number of people suspected to be involved in the incident and confiscated weaponry in a near town.


Gendarmerie Commander Joseph Douaihy confirmed the incident and added that 20 gunmen attacked the patrol and stole 3 rifles.

Douaihy said that the security forces returned the stolen weapons and is currently chasing the suspects, stressing that 10 of them were already arrested and promised that all violators will be arrested.