Lebanese judiciary issues arrest warrants for Hezbollah officials in explosives case

The Lebanese judiciary has issued arrest warrants for two Hezbollah officials as part of an investigation into a shipment of explosives seized by security forces while being transported from eastern Lebanon to Beirut, a judicial source told Agence France-Presse on Tuesday.

The source familiar with the investigation said: "Government Commissioner to the Military Court, Judge Claude Ghanem, issued arrest warrants for two Hezbollah officials after preliminary investigations into the explosives shipment identified them." The source added that security agencies are working to locate and detain the suspects.

The case dates back to October 8, when security forces stopped a truck carrying 500 kilograms of highly explosive materials en route from eastern Lebanon to Beirut, arresting the driver and a passenger.

During initial questioning, the two detainees provided the military aliases of two other individuals, saying they coordinated the transport of the explosives with them. These are the individuals for whom arrest warrants have been issued. A security source previously told AFP that one of the detainees is the son of a Hezbollah official, while the other is also affiliated with the group.

Hezbollah has acknowledged ownership of the shipment. In a mid-October press conference, party lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said Hezbollah had informed "security and judicial authorities" that "the vehicle and its cargo belong to the resistance," clarifying that the materials are "capabilities used by the resistance in confronting Israeli occupation."

The judicial measures come as Lebanese authorities have intercepted three explosives shipments since the beginning of October, amid government efforts to restrict the possession and transport of weapons outside state control.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that his government "will deal firmly with any weapons outside the framework of legitimacy, whether in possession, transport, or use." Army chief Joseph Aoun also emphasized on Saturday that the military and security forces are "implementing government decisions to extend state authority, prevent armed displays, and seize weapons and ammunition," adding that "violators are referred to the judiciary, which is fully performing its duty in enforcing laws and political decisions."

The case is part of Lebanese authorities' efforts to implement a plan to disarm Hezbollah, approved by the government after the group's year-long war with Israel, which ended with a ceasefire in November 2024. Hezbollah had retained its weapons after the Lebanese civil war from 1975 to 1990, justifying this by its resistance to occupation.

Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah resumed on March 2, 2026, before direct negotiations between the two governments, mediated by the United States, led to a framework agreement in June. The deal included provisions for Hezbollah's disarmament, Israel's gradual withdrawal from large areas it occupied in southern Lebanon, and the deployment of the Lebanese army starting in designated areas.

Hezbollah rejects disarmament and direct negotiations with Israel, while the Lebanese government seeks to assert state authority over all weapons and territory.