New Developments in Explosives Truck Investigation: Hezbollah Disabled Surveillance Cameras

Investigations into the case of the Hezbollah explosives truck, seized by Lebanese security forces two weeks ago at the Dahret al-Baidar checkpoint in the eastern Bekaa Valley, are ongoing. The case has not yet been referred to the Justice Council as requested by the Minister of Justice last week, pending the completion of investigations.

With the arrest of the truck drivers and their confession of membership in Hezbollah, details related to the vehicle have gradually emerged, including the route it took from the Bekaa Valley towards Beirut's southern suburbs (Hezbollah's stronghold), and what accompanied the "explosives journey" before the truck fell into the hands of security forces.

From Baalbek to the Southern Suburbs
A security source confirmed to "Al Arabiya/Al Hadath" that the explosives truck departed from the city of Baalbek (eastern Lebanon) after loading its cargo with C4 and TNT from one of the warehouses, then headed towards Beirut's southern suburbs.

The source also clarified that the truck, a DODGE model, traveled via the highway from Baalbek to Dahret al-Baidar, "accompanied by a car moving ahead of it to secure the path and conduct field reconnaissance." He noted that when the explosives vehicle was stopped at the Dahret al-Baidar checkpoint, the accompanying car had already crossed the checkpoint towards the capital Beirut before its occupants disappeared from sight.

Disabling Surveillance Cameras
In addition, the source revealed that upon the stoppage of the explosives truck by the Dahret al-Baidar checkpoint, members of Hezbollah's Security Coordination Committee rushed to disable the surveillance cameras located on the road leading from Baalbek towards Beirut. However, security agencies managed to obtain other cameras that the party could not disable.

The source indicated that "investigations are now focused on the technical examination of the cameras to extract usable information, while also relying on telecommunications data, in order to fully identify those who were in the truck's accompanying car."

Political Communications Led by Berri
Last week, the Cabinet froze the request by the Minister of Justice to refer the explosives shipment file to the Justice Council. This decision resulted from political communications led by Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who stressed the necessity of patience and waiting for judicial and security investigations.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah announced through one of its MPs that the truck belongs to them, stating its purpose was to transport military equipment to fight Israeli occupation forces in southern Lebanon, denying allegations by opponents that its goal was to carry out assassinations within Lebanon.

The party also demanded the return of the shipment and its explosive contents, but official Lebanese authorities refused this request.

Accusing Hezbollah Members of Terrorism

Observers, based on previous experiences in Lebanon, believe that any measure the Lebanese judiciary intends to take in the Hezbollah explosives shipment case should not be less than charging the detainees and anyone implicated by the investigation with terrorism, because Hezbollah violated the Cabinet's decision last March (2026) prohibiting its military activities.

'Al Arabiya - Johnny Fakhry'