Rubio urges Lebanese President to resist Hezbollah pressure regarding explosives

Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Lebanese President Joseph Aoun not to return a truck full of explosives that Hezbollah attempted to smuggle into Beirut several days ago, according to a State Department official and another source familiar with the call. The situation is seen as a test of the Lebanese government's ability to confront Hezbollah and uphold its policy of keeping weapons outside the control of state security forces. Lebanese security forces intercepted the truck last week at a checkpoint on the highway connecting the Bekaa Valley to Beirut. The truck was carrying approximately 780 kilograms of explosives, including TNT and C-4, as reported by Lebanese officials. Two suspects were arrested for transporting the shipment. Following the arrest, Hezbollah acknowledged ownership of the explosives but stated they were intended for use against the Israeli military in southern Lebanon. Opponents of Hezbollah in Lebanon have highlighted the incident as further evidence of the risks posed by the militia's weapons and its independent military activities. Hezbollah and its allies have since pressured the government to release the two arrested members and return the explosives. A State Department official indicated that Rubio urged Aoun to hold accountable all those involved in the shipment and emphasized that returning the explosives to Hezbollah should not be considered. Aoun assured Rubio that the Lebanese army and security forces are committed to enforcing decisions to prevent armed displays, confiscate weapons and ammunition, and combat smuggling, according to the president's office. Aoun also stated that judicial authorities would not show leniency toward those responsible and would enforce laws impartially, saying, "No one will be released unless he is innocent," according to a Lebanese official. Additionally, Rubio raised the issue of Lebanon's 1955 Boycott Law, which prohibits any contact with Israelis, during the call. This topic arose from a complaint filed in a Lebanese court against Nada Hamadeh Moawad, Lebanon's ambassador to the United States, for contacting her Israeli counterpart Yechiel Leiter after his son was injured in a West Bank terror attack. Rubio informed Aoun that this Lebanese law is often used for politicized prosecutions that hinder progress toward peace with Israel. In the broader context, Israel has continued its strikes in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah positions. Aoun requested that Rubio urge Israel to cease these attacks and allow farmers to access their fields safely, according to his office. Following his call with Aoun, Rubio spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, although the State Department did not comment on that conversation. Looking ahead, negotiations between Israel and Lebanon have slowed ahead of the Israeli elections, and the implementation of the U.S.-brokered agreement regarding the IDF withdrawal from pilot zones in southern Lebanon is progressing slowly. U.S., Lebanese, and Israeli military officers are expected to meet at CENTCOM headquarters next week to discuss the implementation.