Rubio presses Lebanon on confiscation of weapons from Hezbollah

What the report says

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pressed Lebanon on Thursday over a shipment of explosives linked to Hezbollah, after Lebanese authorities intercepted a truck carrying about 780kg of explosives on a highway between Beirut and the eastern Bekaa Valley, according to Al Jazeera’s report citing Lebanese and U.S. officials. Lebanon’s Presidential Palace said President Joseph Aoun told Rubio that security forces are carrying out efforts to confiscate illicit arms and bring all weapons under state control.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah acknowledged the group’s connection to the shipment and said the materials were meant for operations against Israel, while also saying the movement had contacted security agencies to clarify ownership of the vehicle and cargo. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam separately described the incident as a criminal operation and said an investigation would try to identify Hezbollah members linked to it.

The exchange reflects broader tension over Lebanon’s effort to restrict armed groups and enforce state authority over weapons. Rubio urged accountability for those who ordered and financed the shipment and reportedly called for direct military communication between Lebanese and Israeli forces to avoid escalation. Aoun, in turn, urged Washington to press Israel to stop attacks in southern Lebanon, where hostilities and ceasefire violations continue to strain the border area.