Lebanonupdated 1h ago2 min read
Hezbollah Says Seized Truckload Of Explosives Belongs To Group, Intended For Israel Forces
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Hezbollah acknowledges ownership of the explosives shipment seized by Lebanese authorities. Explosives were intended to be used against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
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Explosives Truck Seized
Hezbollah acknowledged that a truckload of explosives seized by Lebanese authorities last week belonged to the group and said the explosives were intended to be used against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said, “The vehicle and its cargo belong to the resistance” against Israel, and he also called for the immediate release of those arrested over the seizure.
Lebanese authorities said the truck was stopped at a checkpoint on the main highway linking Beirut with the eastern Bekaa Valley, and judicial authorities said it carried 780 kilograms of explosives including 250 kilograms of TNT and 250 kilograms of C-4 plastic explosives. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam pointed to the seizure after security forces stopped a suspicious truck in the Dahr al-Baydar area while it traveled from the Bekaa region toward Beirut, and he said the government would not relent in its efforts to advance and expand the investigation.
Debate and Denials
Hezbollah denied plans to assassinate internal opponents, and Hassan Fadlallah described the accusations as unfounded while stating that the explosives were “exclusively intended to be used against the Israeli occupation” in the south of the country. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned against complacency in the wake of the seizure, writing, “No leniency and no turning a blind eye, only truth and accountability,” as he promised action against anyone found responsible.
The seizure triggered heated public debate, and the AP account said many accused Hezbollah of planning to carry out assassinations of internal opponents at a time when the group faces mounting pressure to disarm. The New Arab said Hezbollah insisted the materials were intended for use against Israel while openly rejecting a government ban on its military activities, and it described the confrontation as escalating between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government.
Tensions and Next Steps
Lebanese authorities opened an investigation after arresting two men when the truck was intercepted, and they said security agencies would pursue other individuals involved in the shipment. Hezbollah said it had asked Lebanese authorities to hand over the cargo and release the two detainees, framing the incident as part of its resistance against Israel.
The AP account said the incident highlighted growing tensions between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, and it noted that the situation changed in March when the government declared all insurgent activities by the group illegal. The New Arab reported that Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar said security personnel became suspicious of the vehicle because it appeared to be carrying an unusually heavy load, and it said a search uncovered explosive materials prompting officers to arrest the driver and a passenger.