On October 5, Lebanese security forces intercepted a minivan at a checkpoint in Dahr el-Baydar carrying hundreds of kilograms of explosive materials, including TNT and C-4. Two individuals were detained with the vehicle. Hezbollah subsequently claimed ownership of the shipment through a statement by MP Hassan Fadlallah, asserting the explosives were intended for military operations against Israeli forces occupying southern Lebanon and demanding the materials and detainees be returned.
The confiscation has intensified political divisions in Lebanon. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and political opponents of Hezbollah expressed concern that such explosives could be used in assassinations against government officials and political rivals, pointing to past instances where C-4 was employed in such operations. Salam pledged a comprehensive investigation and reiterated the government’s commitment to preventing weapons from operating outside state control. However, analysts questioned the effectiveness of such investigations given the fragmented nature of Lebanon’s security apparatus and competing loyalties within state institutions.
The incident reflects broader tensions between Lebanon’s current government and Hezbollah over the role of armed resistance in the country. Since last year, when new leadership took power following the fall of Syria’s al-Assad regime, Lebanese officials have sought to consolidate all weapons under state authority. Hezbollah has resisted these efforts, though analysts suggest the group’s operational capacity has been diminished. A ceasefire framework signed earlier in the year between Lebanon and Israel includes provisions for Israeli withdrawal and Lebanese Army disarmament operations in southern regions.
Experts noted the confiscation may also relate to regional developments, including ongoing tensions between Iran-aligned groups and Western-backed actors. Some analysts suggested Hezbollah might require explosives for drone operations against Israeli forces, while others pointed to the group’s potential interest in escalating activities in response to broader regional conflicts involving Saudi Arabia, Yemen’s Houthis, and US-Israeli operations.
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