Lebanese army says it seized about 245-250kg of TNT smuggled from Syria
Lebanon's army said on Thursday it foiled an attempt to smuggle roughly 245kg (540 pounds) of TNT, four bombs and eight detonators across the Syrian border; the smugglers fled into Syria.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
The Lebanese army said on Thursday 1 October that it had foiled an attempt to smuggle about 245 kilograms (540 pounds) of TNT from Syria into Lebanon. Anadolu AgencyN “The Lebanese army said Thursday it foiled an attempt to smuggle about 245 kilograms (540 pounds) of TNT from Syria into Lebanon.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The NationalN “Lebanon's army said on Thursday that it had seized almost 250kg of explosives being smuggled over the border from” Read at The National ↗ Alongside the TNT, troops confiscated four explosive devices, eight detonators and electrical wires used for explosives. Anadolu AgencyN “A military unit confiscated four explosive devices, eight detonators and electrical wires used for explosives, in addition to the TNT, during the attempt.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The NationalN “Four bombs and eight detonators were seized in addition to the stash of “highly explosive” TNT, the army said.” Read at The National ↗ The smugglers fled toward Syrian territory when an army patrol arrived; the army said the seizure followed surveillance and monitoring along the northern and eastern borders, while The National describes the unit as patrolling Lebanon's north-eastern borders. Anadolu AgencyN “The smugglers fled toward Syrian territory when an army patrol arrived, it said.”“The army said the seizure followed surveillance and monitoring operations along the northern and eastern borders.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The NationalN “The incident occurred while the army unit was patrolling Lebanon's north-eastern borders.” Read at The National ↗
The army said follow-up and coordination are under way to identify and arrest those involved, and did not say who the smugglers were or what they planned. Anadolu AgencyN “The materials were handed to authorities, while follow-up and coordination efforts are underway to identify and arrest those involved.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The NationalN “The army did not reveal any findings on who the smugglers were or what they were planning.” Read at The National ↗ The National notes the army did not say whether Hezbollah was suspected, and places the seizure a day after Syrian security personnel arrested three members of an alleged Hezbollah cell and dismantled rocket launchers. The NationalN “The army did not say whether Hezbollah was suspected of involvement in Thursday's incident.”“arrested three members of an alleged Hezbollah cell” Read at The National ↗ The National also cited a Reuters report, based on six sources, that Syria and Hezbollah held a secret meeting in Turkey to calm tensions; Turkey and Syria both denied it, with the Syrian Foreign Ministry calling the claims false. The NationalN “Turkey and Syria both denied the meeting had taken place.”“The Syrian Foreign Ministry said: “These claims are false. No such meeting took place.”” Read at The National ↗
Anadolu recalls earlier seizures: 122 mm Grad rockets near Arsal announced on 4 August with two Lebanese arrested, an attempted smuggling of rifles and RPG rounds foiled in Tartus on 9 August, and 226 RPG-type grenades seized by Syrian customs at Jdeidet Yabous in July. Anadolu AgencyN “The army said Aug. 4 it seized 122 mm Grad rockets that had been smuggled from Syria into the outskirts of Arsal in eastern Lebanon and arrested two Lebanese believed to be part of the trafficking network.”“In July, Syrian customs officers at the Jdeidet Yabous crossing seized 226 RPG-type grenades hidden in secret compartments of a vehicle bound for Lebanon.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The 375-kilometre (233-mile) border is rugged and often unmarked, which has long aided smuggling, and authorities on both sides have tried to tighten control this year, including Lebanese army closure of illegal crossings in northern Bekaa in February. Anadolu AgencyN “The Lebanon-Syria border stretches 375 kilometers (233 miles) across rugged mountains, valleys and plains, with many areas lacking clearly marked boundary lines.”“In February, the Lebanese army said it closed several illegal crossings in the northern Bekaa region as part of anti-smuggling operations.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both centre outlets report the army's announcement straightforwardly; Anadolu adds a record of recent smuggling seizures and border geography, while The National places it in Syria-Hezbollah tensions.
- Emphasis
- Anadolu stresses the pattern of arms smuggling and the difficult terrain; The National stresses Hezbollah and Syria-Lebanon security relations.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Anadolu does not mention Hezbollah or the Turkey meeting reports; The National omits the earlier seizures and border length.
- Charged language
- “highly explosive”
- For example
-
“Authorities have also reported several recent attempts to move weapons into Lebanon.” — Anadolu Agency
“Smuggling over the border, especially involving Lebanon's” — The National
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Lebanon's army announced the seizure on Thursday 1 October.
- About 245-250kg of TNT, four bombs/devices, eight detonators and electrical wires were seized.
- The smugglers fled into Syria when a patrol arrived.
- The army says efforts continue to identify and arrest those involved.
Lebanese Army organisation
Says it foiled the smuggling after surveillance, that smugglers fled to Syria, and that it is working to arrest those involved; it gave no information on their identity or intent.
“It said that “follow-up and co-ordination are under way to apprehend those involved”.” — The National
“The army said the seizure followed surveillance and monitoring operations along the northern and eastern borders.” — Anadolu Agency
Syria place
Syria's Foreign Ministry denied a reported secret meeting with Hezbollah in Turkey; its security forces arrested an alleged Hezbollah cell the day before the seizure, per The National.
“The Syrian Foreign Ministry said: “These claims are false. No such meeting took place.”” — The National
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
-
Lebanese army foils attempt to smuggle 540 pounds of TNT from Syria
Neutral Factual report of the army statement, with background on earlier seizures and border terrain.
-
Lebanese army seizes 250kg of explosives smuggled from Syria
Neutral Reports the seizure and sets it against Hezbollah-related tensions and Syria's denied Turkey meeting, noting the army made no link to Hezbollah.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 1 Oct 17:29 First Anadolu AgencyN Lebanese army foils attempt to smuggle 540 pounds of TNT from Syria
- 1 Oct 18:03 +35m The NationalN Lebanese army seizes 250kg of explosives smuggled from Syria
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.