Report: Detainees in Hezbollah explosives case belong to Resistance Brigades

What happened

Naharnet Lebanon reports that the two detainees held in connection with the so-called Hezbollah explosives case are members of the Resistance Brigades, a group affiliated with Hezbollah. According to Nidaa al-Watan newspaper’s report on Monday, the detainees are Haitham Amhaz from Nabha and Ali al-Kurdi from Saadnayel, with the latter identified as related to a Brigades’ top official in Saadnayel.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure or battlefield claim should be read as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source. The Resistance Brigades were formed in 1997 by Hezbollah leadership as a separate force comprising mainly Lebanese youth aiming to fight the Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon without formally joining Hezbollah. Despite Israel’s withdrawal from the south in 2000, the Brigades have remained active. Hezbollah rivals have accused the group in recent years of recruiting individuals with criminal backgrounds, though these allegations are contested and not confirmed in this report.

Nidaa al-Watan also reported that Hezbollah is collecting explosive materials previously held by groups within the Resistance Brigades, citing a perceived operational need at this stage. This raises questions about the nature and scope of arms control within affiliated militias and the implications for broader Lebanese security and UNIFIL monitoring efforts.

Known from the source

• Two detainees named Haitham Amhaz (from Nabha) and Ali al-Kurdi (from Saadnayel) are reportedly connected to the Resistance Brigades.
• The Resistance Brigades are Hezbollah-affiliated and were established in 1997 by Hezbollah leadership.
• The Brigades were created to allow Lebanese youth to fight Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon without formally joining Hezbollah.
• The group remained active after Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000.
• Hezbollah is reported to be gathering explosive materials previously held by groups from the Resistance Brigades.

What remains unclear

The report does not confirm who is responsible for the explosives nor detail the circumstances of the detainees’ arrest. Nor does it provide independent verification of the explosives’ origin or intended use. No official statements from Hezbollah or Lebanese authorities were included in the source context.

What remains unclear: Verification of detainees’ affiliations with the Resistance Brigades beyond Nidaa al-Watan reporting. Details and confirmation of Hezbollah’s current policies or statements about the Resistance Brigades and explosives collection. Independent confirmation of the origin and nature of the explosives involved in the case. Official statements or Lebanese government responses regarding the arrests and 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.