Foiling the Attempt of the Vessel "HAWK III" to Illegally Leave Lebanese Territorial Waters

The LAF Command – Directorate of Orientation issued the following statement:
During the night of 12–13 / 9 / 2025, the following information was received by the Joint Naval Operations Room of the LAF’s Naval Forces, and based on the referral of the competent judicial, a naval patrol pursued the vessel Hawk III as it attempted to illegally leave Lebanese territorial waters .
When the vessel’s crew failed to comply with the patrol’s orders, LAF personnel fired warning shots into the air. A unit from the Marine Commandos Regiment, in coordination with the Air Force, carried out a special boarding operation on the vessel, arresting 22 people who were on board at a distance of about 30 nautical miles from the Lebanese shore, before escorting it back to the Port of Dbayeh.
During the operation, three soldiers were injured as a result of the ship’s captain attempting to maneuver the vessel to prevent LAF personnel from boarding.
An investigation has been launched with the arrestees, and the necessary legal measures will be taken regarding the vessel under the supervision of the competent judicial authorities.