Hezbollah Admits Smuggling Explosives to Beirut, Cites Defense Against Israel

A senior Hezbollah official has acknowledged that the organization continues to smuggle prohibited materials within Lebanon, claiming the purpose is to defend the country against Israel. This admission comes amid a Lebanese government effort to consolidate weapons under state control and enforce its authority over decisions regarding war and peace. The official, Hezbollah Member of Parliament Hassan Fadlallah, stated that a recently seized truck containing explosives belonged to the organization and that the materials were intended for use against Israel. He asserted that Hezbollah contacted the authorities immediately after the vehicle's detention, clarifying its ownership and the intended use of the contents.

Fadlallah dismissed allegations that the explosives were meant for political assassinations, calling such claims a fabrication that serves the enemy and deepens divisions within Lebanon. He further criticized a March 2nd decision by the Lebanese government banning Hezbollah's military activities, deeming it unconstitutional and invalid. He vowed that Hezbollah would protect its people's rights and its capabilities for confronting the Israeli enemy, particularly emphasizing the effectiveness of explosive charges against Israel.

The incident involved a truck discovered in the Dahir al-Bidr area, loaded with hundreds of kilograms of explosives. Lebanese security sources and a Hezbollah official told Reuters that the explosives were intended for use in explosive drones targeting Israeli soldiers. Another Hezbollah MP, Ibrahim Moussawi, stated that if the truck belonged to Hezbollah, the organization had nothing to be ashamed of and warned against accusations of involvement in assassinations.

Hezbollah maintains its refusal to disarm, citing "external pressures" from Israel and the United States, and opposes direct negotiations with Israel. The organization also criticizes the Lebanese authorities' handling of security and reconstruction issues. Despite the ban on its military activities in Lebanon, Hezbollah continues attempts to smuggle weapons from Syria, with Lebanese and Syrian security forces working to thwart these efforts. Syrian President Ahmed al-Shar'a's regime is reportedly acting against Hezbollah's activities within Syria, despite Hezbollah being an ally of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.