Lebanese Security Forces Seize 780 Kilograms of Explosives at Checkpoint
Lebanese security forces intercepted a vehicle carrying 780 kilograms of explosives, including 250 kilograms of TNT and 250 kilograms of C-4 plastic explosives, at a checkpoint in Dahr el-Baydar on October 5, according to judicial officials and reports. The vehicle was stopped on the main highway linking Beirut with the eastern Beqaa Valley, and two men were detained during the operation.
Hezbollah Acknowledges Ownership of Seized Cargo
Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah released a statement confirming that the seized explosives belonged to the group and demanding the immediate release of the two detained individuals, alongside the return of the vehicle and its cargo. Fadlallah asserted that the materials were intended exclusively for use against Israeli forces occupying southern Lebanon, rejecting allegations from political opponents that the shipment was meant for internal operations. “They demanded the immediate release of those detained and the return of the vehicle and everything inside it, as these are capabilities used by the resistance to confront the Israeli occupation of our land in the south,” Fadlallah stated.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam Demands Full Investigation
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam vowed there would be no leniency in investigating the incident, noting that C-4 explosives have historically been linked to infamous political assassinations in modern Lebanese history. While investigators have not established that this specific shipment was intended for an assassination plot, political detractors have raised concerns that smuggled explosives could target Hezbollah’s domestic critics. State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Claude Ghanem subsequently dismissed a legal complaint filed by a pro-Hezbollah lawyer against the Lebanese Ambassador to the United States, as reported by Naharnet and cited by The Jerusalem Post.
🚨 HEZBOLLAH DEMANDS LEBANON RETURN 780 KG OF SEIZED EXPLOSIVESHezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah admitted the TNT and C-4 belonged to the terrorist group, denied assassination plans and demanded the release of 2 suspects.The audacity is staggering. Lebanon now faces a defining… pic.twitter.com/asrckDdcpB
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Urges Direct Military Communication
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun regarding the explosives confiscation, urging authorities to hold accountable all individuals who ordered, financed, and directed the shipment, according to a State Department official cited by i24NEWS. Rubio also addressed Lebanon’s 1955 Boycott Law, describing it as impractical for politicized prosecutions, and pushed for direct military-to-military communication between Lebanese and Israeli forces to advance the trilateral framework agreement.
Questions Surrounding Enforcement and Agency Cooperation
Analysts highlight ongoing friction between the Lebanese government and security apparatuses over how to handle non-state weapons.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Dahr el-Baydar Seizure
What exact explosive materials were found in the intercepted vehicle?
The minivan was carrying 780 kilograms of explosives, which included 250 kilograms of TNT and 250 kilograms of C-4 plastic explosives, according to judicial officials cited by The Times of Israel.
What has the Lebanese government decided regarding the seized cargo and suspects?
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has called for a rigorous investigation with no leniency, while Hezbollah has officially demanded the return of the shipment and the release of the two men detained at the Dahr el-Baydar checkpoint.
How has the United States responded to the incident?
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to emphasize that returning the explosives to Hezbollah should be out of the question and urged accountability for those who financed the shipment, per a State Department official.
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