Why would Hezbollah admit its explosives were smuggled into Lebanon? - analysis

Hezbollah appeared to admit on Thursday that it is the owner of more than 500 kilograms of explosives that were seized by Lebanese authorities.

It appears that this is one of several recent attempts at smuggling explosives, and conflicting information is circulating. Nevertheless, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has called for “no leniency” and for “truth and accountability” in this incident.

“The vehicle and its cargo belong to the resistance,” Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said. He noted that his organization also called for the immediate release of those arrested over the seizure, according to the AFP and Reuters.

This marks a rare admission by Hezbollah and follows several days of questions about the shipment of explosives. Al-Ain media, based in the United Arab Emirates, noted that “the Lebanese Hezbollah party has acknowledged that a shipment of explosive materials seized by Lebanese authorities this week belongs to it.”

Fadlallah indicated that the explosives belong to “the party,” which is a euphemism for Hezbollah.

“Lebanese authorities opened investigations that began with the judicial police and expanded to include military intelligence and the information branch of the Internal Security Forces,” Al-Ain added, based on a Reuters report.

This follows a shipment that was seized earlier this week. Reports indicated the shipment had been smuggled from Syria. At the time, the Lebanese army claimed it had found the explosive materials in the Qasr area of Hermel, packed inside bags and prepared for smuggling from Syrian territory into Lebanese territory. Lebanon attempted to make it appear that the smugglers had fled to Syria. It was not clear whether this was true. Damascus has halted attempts by Hezbollah to smuggle weapons through Syria over the past year.

The reports this week said that the explosive material consisted of C4 and that it had been moved by donkey. It was unclear from reports how many donkeys were used to move the material.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam praised Lebanon’s efforts to identify “all those involved and the parties behind the shipment and to determine their plans and objectives, in preparation for referring them to the judiciary,” Al-Ain media noted. The same report said that Lebanon and Syria are trying to prevent smuggling along their roughly 330 km. of shared border, where there are dozens of illegal crossings.

Lebanese authorities seem to want to make a show of cracking down on explosives smuggled to Hezbollah. However, they don’t want to actually mention Hezbollah by name. The goal may be to indicate to the US that Lebanon is doing “something” to stop smuggling.

It’s convenient for Lebanon to make it seem that the smugglers flee to Syria, which means they need not be charged with crimes in Lebanon. This narrative can also be used to depict Syria negatively.

Hezbollah invaded Syria in 2012 to back the Assad regime against Syrian rebels. When it fell in 2024, Hezbollah had to flee Syria. Since then, there have been discussions about whether Syria might intervene against Hezbollah in Lebanon. While some in the Trump administration discussed this, Damascus appears reluctant to intervene, as it is still rebuilding after years of war.

Salam said this week, “It has become known that a few days ago, a truck was stopped in the town of Zahle, heading from the Bekaa Valley to the Greater Beirut area, containing hundreds of kilograms of explosives, including the highly explosive C-4 substance.” The Lebanese president praised the actions of the security forces.

“I understand the anxiety gripping the Lebanese people upon the news of this truck’s interception and the materials it was transporting, especially since C-4 has been used in several of the infamous political assassinations in modern Lebanese history,” Salam said.

“But from my position as head of government, I call on all Lebanese to rest assured that we will not relent in pursuing the investigation and expanding it to identify every individual involved in this criminal operation, as well as those behind them, uncover their plans and objectives and bring them all to justice to receive the punishment they deserve.”

The reality in Lebanon is that Hezbollah appears to be challenging Salam. They know that the politicians in Lebanon are afraid to condemn Hezbollah. The terror organization wants to see if it can continue to get away with smuggling.

The smuggling incident comes amid an attempt to intimidate Lebanon’s Ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh Moawad. A complaint about her was filed with Lebanon’s military judiciary by a lawyer believed to be pro-Hezbollah. The US has been critical of this complaint.

Naharnet media in Lebanon said that the “state Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Claude Ghanem has decided to dismiss the complaint filed by pro-Hezbollah lawyer Hassan Bazzi against Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad, MTV reported on Thursday.”

Hezbollah’s aim is to attempt to intimidate Lebanese officials who meet with American and Israeli officials.

It is worth noting, Naharnet added, that “Lebanon’s boycott law, adopted in 1955, prohibits direct and indirect dealings with Israeli individuals or entities, including commercial, financial, and cultural institutions. It carries prison sentences ranging from several years to harsher penalties under the broader criminal code.”

The current situation in Lebanon is that Hezbollah remains in the country and is a threat.

Despite rounds of talks, the Lebanese government is not able to rein in Hezbollah, and it continues to challenge the state. It wants to show that it can continue to stockpile explosives.

The group was likely linked to the Beirut Port blast in 2020, but was never held accountable. Hezbollah also murdered former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in 2005 and was not held accountable, despite years of investigation.