Hezbollah members stopped an MTV crew at a checkpoint in Laboueh on February 28, 2014; conducting a thorough search of both the crew’s vehicles and threatening the passengers on board In addition to this, the MTV crew members had previously been stopped and searched at two seold_parate checkpoints; one of which belonged to to the army and the other to its intelligence services.

Journalist Joyce Akiki said in a report regarding the incident, which was broadcasted the same night: “Hezbollah members arrested us in Laboueh, on our way back from Arsal. One of them ordered us to stop. When we asked for explanations, he said: ‘Journalists must also be searched. Get out of the car and show us your ID cards.’”  

She continued on to say: “To avoid problems, we followed his orders. They searched the equipment and our suitcases, before inspecting the doors and windows. They then let us cross the check-point but arrested the channel’s live broadcast vehicle that was following us. We stopped to wait for the other team but the militants ordered us to move forward. When we parked the car on the roadside, roughly one kilometer away from the check-point, a dozen of armed Hezbollah members rushed to the car, shouting threats and said: “If you stop the car one more time, you will cease to exist.” They asked photographer Rawad Germanos to show them his ID card for the second time and told him: “Just so you know, your name is on our list now.” The IDs of our other colleagues Marwan Rahmeh and Charbel Semaan were also inspected a second time. “What do you want us to say? That you arrested us only because we are journalists? What a shame!” we replied. “You can say whatever you want. Just say that the Hezbollah is taking self-security measures in Laboueh,” one of them answered.”

Before adding: “The Lebanese army arrived amidst all this and the Hezbollah members suddenly vanished. We reported the incident to the officer in charge, who told us we should have alerted the army earlier. We thanked him and headed back home.”