Rubio urges Lebanon not to return seized Hezbollah explosives

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Lebanese President Joseph Aoun during a telephone discussion to retain hundreds of kilograms of explosives recently intercepted by national authorities. According to an anonymous American official speaking to Middle East Eye, Rubio stressed that handing the cache back to Hezbollah must be completely excluded and insisted that those orchestrating, funding, and commanding the transport be prosecuted.³

The confiscated shipment, weighing 500 kilograms, was discovered on a highway connecting eastern Lebanon with Beirut. Middle East Eye reported that Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah acknowledged the transport belonged to the organisation. Fadlallah insisted the munitions were intended for fighting Israel, sought the immediate release of detained suspects, and demanded the return of the vehicle and its materials.⁴

Lebanese authorities highlighted different priorities from the diplomatic exchange. According to a presidency statement published on X and cited by Middle East Eye, Aoun asked Rubio to lean on Israel to halt strikes in southern Lebanon. Aoun also urged Washington to ensure Israel follows their bilateral framework deal, halts earthmoving operations, and allows local farmers safe access to their land.²

The incident has exacerbated political friction inside Lebanon. Al Jazeera reported that while Hezbollah maintained the munitions were defensive resources meant to confront Israel, opposing political actors and commentators expressed alarm that such material might be intended for internal assassinations. Amid the dispute, Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon's objective of placing all weapons under formal state authority.^5,8