A Lebanese military court has charged 13 people it says are linked to Hezbollah with trafficking explosives, as the group faces growing pressure to disarm.
The charges, announced on Friday, include possessing weapons, undermining state security and forming illegal associations, according to Lebanese state media. They stem from the seizure of a truck at the Dahr al-Baydar checkpoint earlier this month, which was carrying 780kg of explosives, including 250kg of TNT and 250kg of C-4 plastic explosives, according to judicial officials.
Two people were arrested during the seizure; the 11 others charged remain at large. Five have been identified only by nicknames because their real names are unknown.
Hezbollah has acknowledged owning the explosives, saying they were intended for use against Israel, which continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon. It has asked Lebanese authorities to return the shipment and release the two detainees, calling the charges against them “unjust”.
“Those charged did not undermine the security or integrity of the state, but rather confronted the Israeli enemy that threatens Lebanon’s existence,” said Hezbollah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan.
The case comes amid mounting pressure on Hezbollah to disarm its military wing. In June, Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement that envisaged Israel’s gradual withdrawal from areas it occupies in southern Lebanon, tied to Hezbollah’s disarmament, as well as the deployment of the Lebanese army. Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem has dismissed the agreement as “null and void”.
Hezbollah’s political opponents have expressed fears that smuggled explosives could be turned against the group’s detractors, though investigators have not established that the seized shipment was intended for such an attack.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has said the state “will deal with weapons outside the legal framework with the required firmness”. Despite the framework agreement, Israel has continued attacking southern Lebanon and demolishing homes and infrastructure in occupied villages.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The charges test Lebanon’s ability to assert sovereignty over armed groups, a longstanding challenge that the June framework agreement sought to address.
- Hezbollah’s rejection of the disarmament deal and its defiance of the state threaten to unravel the fragile Lebanon-Israel accord and undermine Prime Minister Salam’s authority.
- The case could escalate into a broader confrontation between the Lebanese military and Hezbollah, with potential implications for regional stability and Israel’s continued occupation of southern Lebanon.
Background
Hezbollah is a powerful Iran-backed political and military group that has fought two wars with Israel and maintains an armed wing separate from the Lebanese army. The June 2026 framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel tied Israel’s withdrawal from occupied southern Lebanese territory to Hezbollah’s disarmament and the deployment of Lebanese troops to the area. Hezbollah has consistently rejected calls to disarm, with its leader Naim Qassem dismissing the agreement as “null and void”.
Key Perspectives
Hezbollah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan: The charges are unjust; those accused confronted the Israeli enemy, not the state.
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem: The Lebanon-Israel agreement is null and void, and the group will not disarm.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam: The state will deal firmly with weapons outside the legal framework.
Hezbollah’s political opponents: They fear that smuggled explosives could be used against them internally.
What to Watch
- Whether the Lebanese army attempts to arrest the 11 fugitives or seize further Hezbollah weapons, which could trigger a direct confrontation.
- The response of the international community, particularly the United States and France, which have backed the framework agreement and may increase pressure on Hezbollah.
- Israel’s continued military operations in southern Lebanon and their impact on the disarmament timeline.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedA Lebanese military court charged 13 people it says are linked to Hezbollah with trafficking explosives.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “A Lebanese military court has charged 13 people it says are linked to Hezbollah with trafficking explosives”
- SupportedThe charges come amid mounting pressure on Hezbollah to disarm.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The case comes as pressure mounts on Hezbollah ... to disarm its military wing.”
- SupportedThe 13 were charged on Friday with offences including possessing weapons, undermining state security and forming illegal associations, as Lebanese state media reported.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The individuals were charged on Friday with offences including possessing weapons, undermining state security and forming illegal associations, Lebanese state media reported.”
- SupportedThe charges stem from the seizure earlier this month of a truck at the Dahr al-Baydar checkpoint carrying 780kg of explosives, including 250kg of TNT and 250kg of C-4.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The vehicle had been carrying 780kg (1,720 pounds) of explosives, including 250kg (550 pounds) of TNT and 250kg (550 pounds) of C-4 plastic explosives, according to judicial officials.”
- SupportedTwo people were arrested during the seizure; the other 11 charged remain at large, and five are known only by nicknames because their real names are unknown.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Two people were arrested during the seizure, while the 11 others charged remain at large. Five have been identified only by nicknames because their real names are unknown.”
- SupportedHezbollah acknowledged owning the explosives, said they were intended for use against Israel, and asked authorities to return them and release the two detainees, calling the charges “unjust”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Hezbollah has acknowledged owning the seized explosives, saying they were intended for use against Israel”
- Partly supportedHezbollah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan said: “Those charged did not undermine the security or integrity of the state, but rather confronted the Israeli enemy that threatens Lebanon’s existence.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Those charged “did not undermine the security or integrity of the state, but rather confronted the Israeli enemy that threatens Lebanon’s existence,” said Hezbollah Member of Parliament Hussein Hajj Hassan.”
- SupportedHezbollah’s opponents fear the explosives could be used against the group’s detractors, but investigators have not established that this shipment was intended for such an attack.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Hezbollah’s political opponents fear that smuggled explosives will be turned against the group’s detractors, although investigators have not established that the seized shipment was intended for such an attack.”
- SupportedIn June, Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement envisaging Israel’s gradual withdrawal from areas it occupies in southern Lebanon, tied to Hezbollah’s disarmament and deployment of the Lebanese army.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “In June, Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement which envisaged Israel’s gradual withdrawal from the areas it occupies in southern Lebanon, tied to Hezbollah’s disarmament, as well as the deployment of the Lebanese army to the south.”
- SupportedHezbollah chief Naim Qassem dismissed the agreement as “null and void”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “the group’s chief, Naim Qassem, has dismissed the Lebanon-Israel agreement as “null and void”.”
- SupportedPrime Minister Nawaf Salam said the state “will deal with weapons outside the legal framework with the required firmness”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has promised state authorities “will deal with weapons outside the legal framework with the required firmness”.”
- SupportedDespite the framework agreement, Israel has continued attacks in southern Lebanon and demolishing homes and infrastructure in occupied villages.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Despite its recent framework agreement, Israel has continued carrying out attacks in southern Lebanon and systematically demolishing homes and infrastructure in dozens of villages it occupies.”