The case of the explosives seized in the possession of two Hezbollah members puts Lebanese authorities under increased international scrutiny, making the way they handle it a subject of close observation, a diplomatic source said.
“Any leniency in uncovering the network behind the explosives, or settling for holding only the transporters accountable without reaching the decision-makers, will put the state's credibility and the extent of its commitment to the exclusivity of weapons to a new test,” the source warned in remarks to the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper.
The source also noted that even if the shipment was bound for the South to be used against Israel, this “does not diminish the gravity of the matter.”
“Rather, it exposes the state to additional accountability, because transporting this shipment to the South … means the Lebanese Army and security forces must fulfill their duties in extending state authority over all of its territory, most importantly the South,” the source added.