Lebanon Vows Firm Action Against Illegal Weapons as Authorities Seize Half-Ton of Explosives Near Syrian Border

• Lebanese authorities have arrested two individuals suspected of being Hezbollah members who were allegedly transporting a large quantity of explosives.
• The arrest took place at a checkpoint near the Lebanese-Syrian border.

Updated 2 min 59 sec ago

October 12, 2026 13:56

Beirut: Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam declared on Monday that the government will not tolerate anyone threatening the nation’s security and will respond with decisive measures. His statement came amid escalating tensions following the recent seizure of a significant cache of explosives by Lebanese security forces.

“The concerns of the Lebanese people are justified, particularly given that the confiscated shipment included C-4 plastic explosives—material commonly associated with political assassinations,” Salam emphasized during a press briefing.

A judicial source speaking to AFP on Saturday revealed that two individuals believed to be affiliated with Hezbollah were detained after attempting to transport approximately 500 kilograms of military-grade explosives. The suspects were apprehended Thursday afternoon at a security checkpoint in Dahr Al-Baidar, located in eastern Lebanon near the border with Syria. Their vehicle, reportedly en route to Beirut, was subjected to inspection where authorities discovered the dangerous cargo.

According to the anonymous source, the seizure included 250 kilograms of TNT-type explosives and an additional 250 kilograms of C-4, a highly potent compound often used in both construction and improvised explosive devices. The intended destination of the materials remains unclear, though investigations are ongoing.

Initial probes suggest one suspect may be the son of a senior Hezbollah figure, while the other is also allegedly linked to the Iran-backed organization. However, Lebanese officials have yet to officially confirm thesedetails.

In response to the incident, Justice Minister Adel Nassar took to social media platform X on Saturday, assuring the public that the investigation into the explosives seizure will proceed comprehensively “until its full conclusion.” He further reiterated the government’s commitment to dismantling unauthorized armed groups, combating terrorism, and holding accountable those operating outside the law—stating these efforts are “both irreversible and accelerating.”

This development unfolds against the backdrop of Lebanon’s broader efforts to implement a disarmament initiative targeting Hezbollah, which gained momentum in 2025 following a ceasefire agreement that ended months of intense conflict between the group and Israel. Despite the truce, hostilities resumed in March when Hezbollah launched attacks into Israeli territory in solidarity with Iran amid regional tensions. Israel’s subsequent invasion led to the occupation of parts of southern Lebanon, though a new ceasefire reached in June has paved the way for diplomatic negotiations involving Hezbollah’s disarmament, Israel’s gradual withdrawal, and increased Lebanese military presence in contested areas.

Meanwhile, Syria—historically a key transit point for weapons supplied to Hezbollah by Iran under former leader Bashar al-Assad—has seen a shift in dynamics since the fall of Assad’s regime in late 2024. The new Syrian government has repeatedly reported intercepting weapons shipments bound for Lebanon, complicating Hezbollah’s logistics network. While the group maintains its denial of any operational presence on Syrian soil, ongoing regional instability continues to fuel concerns over illicit arms trafficking and security threats emanating from non-state actors.

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