A joint night operation carried out by the Lebanese Army, in direct coordination with the APU Unit and Army Intelligence in Dinnieh (North Lebanon), led to the arrest of dozens of illegal hunters engaged in night hunting with spotlights in the Daria Hill – Izal area. Hunting rifles, calling devices, and several four-wheel-drive vehicles with tinted windows were confiscated. The detainees were referred to the Environmental Public Prosecutor for legal action.
This significant action against night hunting crimes was the result of close collaboration between the APU Unit, Brigadier General Nazih Bkaai, Head of Army Intelligence in the North, the international CABS organization for bird protection, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), and sustainable hunters from the Dinnieh region. The operation reflects the firm commitment of the Lebanese Army, its intelligence services, and the APU Unit to combating illegal hunting and protecting biodiversity. It also underscores the responsible role of sustainable hunters in preserving nature and safeguarding hunting as a legitimate hobby from the abuses of poachers.
The APU Unit (affiliated with the “Middle East Center for Sustainable Hunting – MESHC” and the “Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon – SPNL”) implements an anti-illegal hunting project supported by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, in cooperation with BirdLife International, in partnership with CABS, and in coordination with the Internal Security Forces, the Information Branch, and Army Intelligence.
Furthermore, the unit’s activities contribute to the BioConnect Project, a 45-month initiative running until October 2025. The project focuses on enhancing governance and management of environmentally significant sites, establishing new protected areas and other effective conservation measures (OECMs), and promoting broader landscape conservation. BioConnect also aims to improve ecosystem health, deliver social and economic benefits, and support local communities by addressing the main pressures threatening biodiversity.
