After Seizing Explosives, Lebanon Issues Arrest Warrants Against Two Hezbollah Officials

Lebanese judiciary issued arrest warrants against two Hezbollah officials on Tuesday, according to a judicial source, following their alleged connection to a shipment of explosives seized by security forces about two weeks ago.

This comes amid increasing pressure on the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has been weakened by two consecutive wars with Israel since 2023, and whose disarmament was decided by the government last year.

Security forces stopped a truck loaded with 500 kilograms of highly explosive materials on August 8 while it was being transported from the east of the country towards Beirut. The driver and an accompanying person were arrested. Hezbollah later acknowledged that the explosives belonged to them.

Agence France-Presse quoted the judicial source familiar with the investigation as saying: "Government Commissioner at the Military Court Judge Claude Ghanem issued two arrest warrants against two Hezbollah officials after preliminary investigations into the explosives shipment file identified both individuals completely."

According to the source, security agencies are working to locate the suspects for arrest.

A security source reported after the truck seizure that two people inside were arrested, one being "the son of a Hezbollah official," while the other "also belongs to the party."

During preliminary investigations, the detainees provided the military names of two other individuals they said coordinated the transport of the explosives with them; these are the persons against whom the judiciary issued arrest warrants.

Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah stated in a press conference mid-month that the party informed "security and judicial authorities" that "the vehicle and its cargo belong to the Resistance," clarifying that they are "capabilities used by the Resistance in resisting Israeli occupation."

Since the beginning of this month, authorities announced the seizure of three shipments of explosives.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed that his government "will deal with the required firmness regarding any weapon outside the framework of legitimacy, whether possession, transport, or use."

President Joseph Aoun stressed on Saturday that the army and security forces undertake "implementing government decisions regarding extending state authority, preventing armed manifestations, and confiscating weapons and ammunition," explaining that "violators are referred to the judiciary, which fully performs its duty in applying laws and political authority decisions."

Following a destructive war fought by Hezbollah and Israel for over a year, ending with a ceasefire in November 2024, the Lebanese government approved a plan to disarm the party.

After the renewal of hostilities between the two sides on March 2, the governments of both countries held direct negotiations under American sponsorship, resulting in the signing of a framework agreement in June that specifically stipulated the disarmament of the party, Israel's gradual withdrawal from large areas occupied in the south, and the deployment of the Lebanese army starting from "trial" zones.

Hezbollah, the only formation in Lebanon that retained its weapons after the end of the civil war (1975-1990) citing "resistance to Israel," refuses disarmament and direct negotiations.