Beirut: After thwarting their attempt to board a boat bound for Europe, the Lebanese army detained 134 migrants on Saturday near the country's northern border with Syria, according to a statement.

130 Syrians and four Lebanese people who were part of the group of prospective migrants were apprehended in the coastal town of Sheikh Zennad, in the Akkar province, according to an army statement.

The Lebanese national described as "the mastermind behind the operation" was also detained, according to the army. The Lebanese armed forces claimed in a separate statement that they had apprehended 150 Syrians who had entered Lebanon illegally in another region of Akkar province.

Also Read:Capsized Migrant Boat Claims 6 Lives, Rescues Over 50 in English Channel

The World Bank has ranked Lebanon's economic crisis as one of the worst in modern history.

Due to the nation's economic collapse, its own citizens are now joining Syrian and Palestinian refugees who are clamouring to flee via perilous sea routes.

More than 800,000 Syrians have registered with the UN, according to authorities, making Lebanon the country with the highest per-capita refugee population in the world.

One of the main destinations for migrants leaving Lebanon for Europe is Cyprus, which is only 175 km away.

Also Read: Nigerian Religious Leaders Confer with Junta as Detained President Receives Doctor's Visit

At least 100 bodies were found in September 2022, after a boat carrying migrants from Lebanon capsized off the coast of Syria.
Two migrants perished in a boat sinking in December 2022 off the coast of Lebanon, but 200 people were saved.

The arrests were announced as French authorities reported that six migrants died after their boat capsized early on Saturday while attempting to cross the English Channel, and two more may still be missing.

According to the maritime prefecture, search and rescue operations are still going on after nearly 60 migrants were saved by French and UK rescue boats and brought to French or British shores.

Also Read: UK Government Faces Heat Amid Refugee Barge Controversy and Legionella ScareLegal Spotlight: Georgia Grand Jury Set to Deliberate Trump Election Inquiry Next Week

Numerous migrant boats attempted to cross the channel simultaneously around 6 a.m. (0400 GMT), according to the local mayor Franck Dhersin.