Hezbollah Claims Explosives Seized in Lebanon Were Intended for Attacks on Israel

Hezbollah has acknowledged ownership of a shipment of explosives seized by Lebanese security forces, saying the materials were intended for attacks against Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, as tensions grow over the government’s efforts to bring all weapons under state control.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah made the disclosure on Thursday, October 15, telling reporters at the Lebanese parliament that the group owned the vehicle and its cargo. He said the explosives were intended to be used against Israeli forces occupying parts of Lebanese territory.

According to Reuters and the Associated Press, Lebanese authorities intercepted the explosives-laden vehicle at a checkpoint on the highway linking Beirut with the eastern Bekaa Valley last week. Two people travelling in the vehicle were arrested, and an investigation was launched.

Judicial officials cited by the Associated Press said the shipment contained approximately 780 kilogrammes of explosives, including TNT and C-4 plastic explosives. A Hezbollah official and a Lebanese security source told Reuters that the materials were intended for use in explosive drones targeting Israeli troops.

Before Hezbollah acknowledged ownership, the seizure had prompted concerns that the explosives could be used in attacks against political opponents inside Lebanon. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam highlighted the country’s history of political assassinations involving explosives and pledged a thorough investigation.

Fadlallah rejected suggestions that the shipment was linked to a domestic assassination plot, describing the allegations as baseless. He said Hezbollah had contacted security agencies to clarify ownership and demanded the return of the materials and the release of the two detainees.

The disclosure comes amid an intensifying dispute between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government over the group’s weapons and military activities. In March, the government declared Hezbollah’s military activities illegal following rocket attacks against Israel that drew Lebanon further into the regional conflict.

Hezbollah has rejected the disarmament push, arguing that it will not surrender its weapons while Israeli forces remain on Lebanese territory and Israeli attacks continue. The Lebanese government, meanwhile, has insisted that weapons must come under state authority.

Israel’s continued military presence in parts of southern Lebanon and the wider regional conflict have complicated efforts to enforce the government’s policy. The seizure also highlights the challenge facing Lebanese authorities as they attempt to investigate weapons transfers while preventing further domestic instability.

The investigation into the shipment remains significant because of the quantity of explosives involved and the competing security concerns surrounding their intended use. Hezbollah says the materials were destined for attacks on Israeli forces, but Lebanese authorities’ concerns about possible internal attacks have added to public anxiety.

The case is likely to intensify debate over Hezbollah’s military role, the Lebanese state’s authority over armed groups and the prospects for reducing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.