Lebanese Army cracks down on gunfire at funeral in Beirut's southern suburbs

Report by Maroun Nassif, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi  

Lebanon's military has launched a security crackdown following gunfire during a funeral procession in Beirut's southern suburbs, in a move that underscores a zero-tolerance policy toward celebratory shooting.

Units from the Lebanese Armed Forces, backed by military intelligence, carried out a series of raids targeting individuals involved in firing weapons during the procession held on Sunday in the suburbs.

According to a security account obtained by LBCI, the raids began hours after the incident rather than immediately, as commanders sought to avoid civilian casualties among the large crowds attending the funeral.

Operations initially focused on the Kafaat area, resulting in the arrest of one suspect. Raids continued on Sunday in Laylaki and Borj El Brajneh, resulting in the detention of three additional individuals and bringing the total number of arrests to four.

Security sources said the operations were conducted without confrontation or resistance, including from members affiliated with Hezbollah. The Lebanese Army also seized weapons and ammunition during the raids.

Authorities say the campaign is ongoing, noting that dozens of people are believed to have fired shots during the funeral. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend all those involved, including individuals who concealed their identities with masks.

Officials signaled that further arrests are expected as the investigation continues, amid calls to curb the widespread and dangerous practice of firing weapons during public gatherings.