Hezbollah Claims Explosives Seized by Lebanese Authorities
publishers 20articles 23first reported 15 Oct, 11:42 UTCdeveloping since 15 Oct · 8 editions
Hezbollah acknowledged that a 500-kilogram shipment of explosives seized by Lebanese authorities belonged to the group and demanded its return, saying the materials were intended for use against Israel.
“The vehicle and its cargo belong to the resistance,” Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said Thursday. He also called for the release of people detained in connection with the shipment, which was intercepted last week on a road linking eastern Lebanon with Beirut. A Hezbollah official and a Lebanese security source told Reuters that the explosives were intended for drones targeting Israeli troops. Hezbollah denied that they were meant for political assassinations, according to AP.
A judicial source cited by AFP said the vehicle carried 250 kilograms of TNT and 250 kilograms of C-4. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said authorities would identify those involved and those who ordered the operation, reiterating that the state would not tolerate possession of illegal weapons.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the seizure with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in a Thursday call, according to a State Department official. Rubio urged Lebanon not to return the explosives and called for accountability for those who ordered, financed and directed the shipment. He also urged direct communication between the Lebanese and Israeli militaries to reduce the risk of clashes.
The dispute comes as Lebanon’s government seeks to place all weapons under state control and disarm non-state groups, including Hezbollah, under a phased framework linked to an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 34 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 20
- Source articles
- 23
- Given to the writer
- 8, 3 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 34 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →