Lebanonupdated 1h ago3 min read
Lebanese Military Court Judge Claude Ghanem Charges 13 Hezbollah Members Over Explosives Truck
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Judge Claude Ghanem charged 13 people, including Hezbollah members, over explosives-laden truck. Truck carrying around 500 kg TNT and C-4 was seized at Dahr el-Baidar.
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Charges in explosives truck case
Lebanese military court Judge Claude Ghanem issued formal charges against 13 people in connection with the so-called explosives-laden truck case, and he referred the file to the First Military Investigations Judge, Ghada Abu Awwalan, to complete legal steps. Judicial sources said the charges include possession of explosive materials and weapons, and forming unregulated associations aimed at undermining the state’s authority and prestige. The incident began on October 8, when security forces stopped a truck in the Dahr El-Beed area on the international road linking the east of the country to Beirut and found a load weighing 500 kilograms of highly explosive materials, equally divided between TNT and RDX (C-4).
Hezbollah later admitted its affiliation with the shipment, and MP Hassan Fadlallah said at a press conference that the explosives represent “capacities used by the resistance” to confront the occupying army. The prosecution cited penalties that could reach up to ten years of hard labor as the military judiciary sought to pursue those involved in transporting dangerous materials without official permits from state institutions.
Hezbollah calls it political
Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah acknowledged on October 15 that the explosives belonged to his movement and said they were meant for its “resistance” against Israel, while warning authorities about the “consequences of pursuing” measures against the party.
Hezbollah lawmaker Dr. Hussein Hajj Hassan said the indictment violates “the most basic rules of the National Pact, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Charter, and numerous Lebanese laws,” and he argued that the detainees were performing a national duty.
The party urged Lebanese authorities to release the detainees and return the seized cargo, describing it as part of its defensive system.
The case also drew international pressure, with sources indicating that American officials urged the Lebanese government to hold those responsible for financing and managing the shipment accountable.
Washington confirmed in its communications with Beirut that the option of returning the explosives to Hezbollah should be completely excluded from any settlement.
Judiciary, politics, and next steps
Lebanon’s political dispute over the case intensified when Justice Minister Adel Nassar demanded its referral to the Court of Justice, and the Council of Ministers decided on October 22, after a political compromise, to postpone considering that request pending the outcome of the investigation.
Ministers from the Christian party Lebanese Forces boycotted Thursday’s Cabinet session at the Grand Serail, and the boycott involved Joe Rajji, Joe Issa al-Khoury, and Kamal Shehadi.
The case file was transferred to the competent military judge to issue arrest warrants, and the accused face up to ten years of hard labor under the legal provisions cited in the indictments.
A judicial source told L’Orient-Le Jour that the charges concern damage to internal and external security of the State, as well as offenses under Articles 228 and 335 of the Penal Code, Article 24 of the Military Justice, and Articles 72 and 76 of the Weapons Legislation Law.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Lebanese President Joseph Aoun “to hold accountable all those who ordered, funded, and directed this shipment,” and he stressed that returning the explosives to Hezbollah should be out of the question.