Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces’ Information Branch have arrested five Lebanese and Syrian nationals for allegedly smuggling individuals from Syria into Lebanon through the northern border.

Local media reported on Thursday that the individuals were allegedly being transported illegally to the Bekaa Valley for military training.

The suspects were being interrogated under the supervision of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, Ahmad Rami el-Hajj, who has ordered an expanded investigation into the alleged network.

Reports said security forces seized machine guns, sniper rifles and explosives from the group and were tracking several other individuals whose names emerged during the investigation.

The case would be referred to the military judiciary after the completion of the preliminary investigation.

Hezbollah, in response to media reports alleging that the group was part of a cell seeking to destabilise security in Lebanon and Syria, denied any connection with the arrested individuals.

(NAN)