Army finds no weapons in Fanar tunnel; mayor says diggers sought gold

Specialised Lebanese Army units said the small tunnel found in a pine forest between Fanar and Zaatriyeh in the Metn "contains no weapons or military equipment", LBCI and Naharnet reported. The army put the tunnel at about 13 metres, with several individual digging holes inside. One suspect was detained, and investigators are still working to establish its purpose.

Fanar municipal chief Michel Salameh told An-Nahar that the digging "was aimed at searching for gold". He said there were no arms or narcotics at the site, that the tunnel has no exit, and that the municipality will seal the pit. A passer-by found the entrance and alerted municipal police.

Kataeb leader MP Sami Gemayel said he had asked Defence Minister Michel Menassa for a full sweep of the Rweissat-Jdeideh area. He listed the tunnel, the explosives shipment seized at Dahr al-Baidar and an armed standoff with security forces in the southern suburbs as "dangerous indicators" that the state must act on decisively.

The army's quick, transparent response shows the value of letting the state's own institutions investigate and report the facts.