Lebanese security agencies have launched an expanded investigation into a substantial shipment of explosives, with sources telling The New Arab that the materials seized were of a type previously used in political assassinations in the country.
Sources familiar with the investigation said army intelligence and the Internal Security Forces' Information Branch had been tasked by the public prosecutor with identifying those behind the shipment, amid growing fears of renewed political violence in Lebanon.
"The case is sensitive, and the quantity of materials seized was not small. These materials have been used in political assassinations in Lebanon," the sources told The New Arab.
They said investigators had already taken statements and would pursue further leads to identify individuals named during questioning.
The sources stressed that authorities would not tolerate any wrongdoing but warned against rushing to conclusions or exploiting the case politically, given Lebanon's fragile domestic situation.
The revelations came as Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar disclosed new details on Tuesday about the discovery of the explosives at the Dahr al-Baidar checkpoint, which connects Beirut with the Bekaa Valley.
Hajjar said security personnel became suspicious of a grey Dodge Caravan on Monday because it appeared to be carrying an unusually heavy load.
A search uncovered explosive materials, prompting officers to arrest the driver and his passenger. Both suspects, along with the seized materials, were handed over to military police on the instructions of the judicial authorities.
The discovery has revived fears of political assassinations, with suspicion quickly falling on Hezbollah, although investigators have yet to publicly establish who was responsible for the shipment or its intended purpose.
Hajjar confirmed that army intelligence and the Information Branch had been instructed to expand their inquiries to establish the full circumstances and hold anyone found responsible accountable.
The minister also ordered tighter security at checkpoints, increased inspections and patrols, and a stronger security presence across the country.
He praised officers at Dahr al-Baidar for intercepting the vehicle, saying their vigilance had helped prevent a potential threat to Lebanon's security and stability.
Further explosives discovered near Syrian border
The investigation has also drawn the attention of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who discussed the case with army commander General Rodolphe Haykal.
Salam praised Lebanese security forces for discovering an additional quantity of explosives in the Qasr-Hermel area near the Syrian border.
He called for investigations to continue until all those involved in the smuggling operations, including the parties behind them, were identified and referred to the judiciary.
The prime minister reiterated his support for the Lebanese army and emphasised the need to strengthen its capabilities to secure the country's borders and extend state authority across Lebanese territory.
Justice Minister Adel Nassar, meanwhile, said on Monday that he would seek to refer the explosives case to the Judicial Council, a special court responsible for cases involving serious threats to national security.
He insisted that such a referral would not delay or obstruct the ongoing investigation.
Nassar also warned that the regional situation could encourage Hezbollah to take actions that might drag Lebanon into another devastating war.
He raised concerns over reports that explosives had been transported from the Bekaa Valley towards Beirut's southern suburbs, warning that storing such materials in densely populated areas would itself constitute a serious crime, regardless of their intended use.
According to Nassar, experts had warned that the reported quantity of explosives could destroy an entire neighbourhood.
The case comes as Lebanon faces mounting pressure to implement decisions aimed at placing all weapons under state control and extending the authority of its security institutions across the country.
US links reconstruction aid to Hezbollah disarmament
The developments coincide with renewed US pressure on Hezbollah, with Washington declaring that billions of dollars in reconstruction assistance for Lebanon would depend on the group's disarmament.
In remarks circulated by the US embassy in Beirut on Wednesday, a State Department spokesperson dismissed claims that Hezbollah had received substantial Iranian funding and accused the group of using criminal activities to compensate for its financial difficulties.
The spokesperson alleged that Hezbollah was involved in drug smuggling and maintained links with drug cartels in Latin America.
Washington also dismissed Hezbollah's recently announced financial assistance programme for displaced Lebanese families as an attempt to restore its reputation rather than genuinely help those affected by the war.
The State Department spokesperson said the US was working with Gulf and European partners on a plan to release billions of dollars in reconstruction assistance, but insisted that Hezbollah must surrender its weapons first.
The spokesperson also said Washington would continue supporting the trilateral framework agreed by Lebanon and Israel on 26 June, describing it as the only viable route towards long-term peace and security for both countries.
The comments followed Hezbollah's announcement on Tuesday of a financial assistance programme for families displaced by Israeli attacks or whose homes had been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable.
Under the programme, eligible households in Beirut and its southern suburbs could receive up to $14,000 in housing and furniture assistance, while those elsewhere could receive up to $12,000.
The payments would include a standard $8,000 furniture allowance, alongside rental assistance of $6,000 in Beirut and its southern suburbs and $4,000 in other areas.
Hezbollah said the assistance would be distributed in four instalments over one year, subject to available resources, with the first payments set at $3,500 in Beirut and its southern suburbs and $3,000 elsewhere.
The programme would also cover eligible families displaced by Israeli attacks in September 2024 and March 2026.
The announcement followed media reports that the group had received $200 million from Iran to support displaced Lebanese families.
Hezbollah sources did not deny the reports when contacted by The New Arab, but said its funding came from several sources, including the group's own resources, supporters and donations from Lebanon and abroad.
US diplomatic sources told The New Arab that Washington would continue imposing sanctions on Hezbollah and its financial networks to prevent the group from rebuilding its military and financial capabilities.
The sources said that even if Hezbollah secured additional Iranian funding, it would not be sufficient to restore its capabilities, and Washington would continue targeting individuals and networks accused of financing or facilitating its activities.
The pressure comes as Lebanon struggles with the devastation caused by Israel's continuing military campaign, with preliminary estimates putting losses at more than $27 billion.
Israeli forces have continued demolishing buildings and damaging infrastructure and agricultural land in southern Lebanon, while maintaining occupation or military control over parts of the border region.