Official Says Early to Talk about Bekaa Security Plan 'Zero Hour'

A security official denied that police and the army began implementing a much-anticipated security plan for the eastern Bekaa Valley, saying recent arrests came as part of routine raids.

The official, who was not identified, told al-Joumhouria daily published on Thursday that “operations carried out by the army and security forces... in the Bekaa do not fall under the promised security plan.”

Police and troops are chasing some criminals and gangs in Bekaa towns as part of routine security operations, he said.

Asked about reports that the zero hour for the security plan has come, the official said: “It is still early to talk about it.”

An Nahar newspaper also quoted informed sources as saying that the raids and arrests in the Bekaa came following an agreement between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal representatives not to provide any political cover to outlaws.

“The rate of arrests is still low despite the large number of raids carried out in search for suspects," they said.

The plan seeks to clamp down on criminals in the Bekaa where certain areas, such as the town of Brital, are known to be a safe haven for car-theft gangs and drug dealers, as well as networks that kidnap people in return for ransom.

G.K.

H.K.