BAALBEK, Lebanon: Lebanese security forces carried out a fresh set of raids in the northern Bekaa Valley for a third straight day Saturday, pressing on with a major operation to round of suspected thieves and drug lords.
Security sources told The Daily Star that the security plan, launched on Thursday to restore law and order to eastern Lebanon, moved towards town of Maqneh, just north of Baalbek, after targeting the towns of Brital, Hor Taala, Doris and al-Hammoudieh a day earlier.
A joint security force comprised of the Army, police and General Security officers rounded up 66 people over Thursday and Friday, according to official figures.
The security forces started raiding houses in Maqneh at 4 a.m. Sunday, sources said, noting that there has yet to be any arrests.
The raids were carried out in coordination with the respective municipalities.
Sources said the Army is trying to create a security belt by erecting checkpoints at the main entrances to the Bekaa Valley.
The Army Sunday reinforced its positions at the entrances to the towns of Brital, Hor Taala and Hijzine.
On Friday, Joint forces arrested 56 people after raiding the homes of fugitives in the northern Bekaa Valley, confiscating quantities of drugs and weapons.
In a statement, the Army said the raids were concentrated in the Bekaa Valley towns of Baalbek, Brital, Hor Taala, Doris and al-Hammoudieh.
Ten others were arrested one day earlier, a separate Army statement said, adding that it had recovered 18 stolen vehicles in raids in Brital and Hor Taala.
The security plan will go on for several days until the area is “clear of any fugitives, outlaws or drug dealers,” Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk said in a press conference from Brital Friday, adding that a permanent operations room had been established in the Bekaa to go after fugitives.
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