13 Charged In Hezbollah Explosives Case in Lebanon as Tensions Persist

What happened

Lebanese media outlet Naharnet reports that 13 individuals have been charged by Government Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Claude Ghanem in connection with a Hezbollah explosives truck seized earlier this month in Dahr al-Baidar, a key checkpoint on the main highway linking Beirut to the eastern Bekaa Valley. The charges include offenses related to internal and external state security, as well as violations of specific articles of the Lebanese Penal Code and Arms Law.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. MTV Lebanon identified some of the charged individuals as Hezbollah members Haytham Amhaz and Ali al-Kurdi, who remain in custody, along with Hezbollah security officials Ibrahim Habib and Bilal Sabouri. Others named include Mohammad Ayoub, Mohammad Zoaiter—who was reportedly in a car escorting the explosives truck—Mohammad Hazimeh, the truck’s owner, and Iryna Kryshynova, who is Amhaz’s wife. Additionally, five more Hezbollah members have been charged only by their noms de guerre. Hezbollah has not immediately commented on the charges.

Officials said the truck was carrying roughly 780 kilograms of explosives, including large quantities of TNT and C-4 plastic explosives. Hezbollah later acknowledged in a statement that the explosives belonged to the group and claimed they were intended for use against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. The group requested Lebanese authorities to return the explosives and release the detained individuals, which the Lebanese government has not confirmed or acted upon.

Known from the source

• 13 individuals were charged by Government Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Claude Ghanem in connection with the Hezbollah explosives truck case.
• The explosives truck was stopped at a checkpoint in Dahr al-Baidar on the main Beirut-Bekaa highway.
• The truck was carrying approximately 780 kilograms of explosives including 250 kilograms of TNT and 250 kilograms of C-4.
• Some charged individuals include Hezbollah members Haytham Amhaz, Ali al-Kurdi, and security officials Ibrahim Habib and Bilal Sabouri.
• Hezbollah officially acknowledged ownership of the explosives, stating the materials were intended against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

What remains unclear

The seizure and charges come after the Lebanese government declared Hezbollah’s military activities illegal in March, a direct response to rocket attacks launched by Hezbollah into northern Israel earlier that year. These attacks led to a war causing thousands of casualties and Israeli occupation of parts of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah continues to reject the government's outlawing of its armed wing, further complicating Lebanon’s security and political landscape.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verify the full identities and roles of all 13 charged individuals including those identified by noms de guerre. Confirm exact legal charges filed under Lebanese Penal Code and Arms Law articles as reported. Clarify official Lebanese government reaction or planned actions regarding Hezbollah’s request to release detainees and return explosives.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Naharnet Lebanon. Open the source.