\n\n
The Lebanese army intercepted a shipment of roughly 200 kg of C‑4 explosives packed in bags in the Hermel region, confirming that the material was being moved from Syrian territory into Lebanon on a mule crossing at Qasr. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced on X that a truck had been stopped a few days earlier at the Dahr al‑Baidar checkpoint carrying “hundreds of kilograms of explosive materials” including C‑4, and pledged a thorough investigation to track down all participants, saying the government would not be lenient.
These seizures follow earlier captures of about 245 kg of TNT, detonators and wiring, underscoring a surge in illicit arms flows that threaten Lebanon’s fragile security. The government’s firm response signals a renewed effort to curtail Hezbollah‑linked weapons smuggling, a priority since declaring the group’s military activities illegal in March.
What to watch next:
- Further arrests or raids targeting the smuggling network and any links to Hezbollah operatives.
- Statements from the judicial authorities on charges against the detained suspects.
- International reaction, especially from neighboring Syria and regional partners, regarding cross‑border weapons trafficking. [[1]]