Rubio urges Lebanon to resist Hezbollah pressure over seized explosives

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1. 1h ago

   Rubio Urges Lebanon Not to Return Seized Hezbollah Explosives

   US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has pressured Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to resist Hezbollah's demands for the return of a confiscated shipment of explosives. In a phone call on Thursday, Rubio stated that returning the materials to the group should be "out of the question" and called for the accountability of those who financed and directed the shipment. While Hezbollah has claimed ownership of the explosives, stating they were intended for attacks on Israel, President Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to bring all weapons under state control.

   Why it matters

   The seizure has caused internal division within Lebanon as Hezbollah seeks the return of its materiel. The incident occurs amid ongoing Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon and broader discussions regarding the disarmament of non-state actors.

   What is confirmed

   • US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun regarding the confiscation of explosives from Hezbollah.
   • Hezbollah claimed ownership of the confiscated explosives and stated they were meant to attack Israel.
   • Hezbollah denied that the explosives were part of assassination plans.
   • Marco Rubio urged President Aoun to hold those who ordered, financed, and directed the shipment accountable.
   • President Joseph Aoun asked Marco Rubio to pressure Israel to stop attacks and land-clearing operations in southern Lebanon.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The smuggling of explosives signals preparations for a renewed war with Israel.
   • The shipment consisted of hundreds of kilograms of explosives.

   What to watch next

   • Lebanese government decision on whether to return the explosives to Hezbollah
   • Progress on the framework agreement regarding Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon
   • Evidence regarding the financing and direction of the explosives shipment
   Sources used for this update (20)

   1. www.unitedforpeace.org — Israel/Palestine War: Resources - United For Peace and Justice
   2. help.naver.com — Futures Flat As Oil Rebounds After Trump's "Energy Ceasefire" Unravels, Memory Stocks Slide | ZeroHedge
   3. AP News — Hezbollah claims confiscated explosives and denies assassination plans
   4. Reuters — Hezbollah says it owned confiscated explosives, meant to attack Israel
   5. Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs — Hizbullah’s Explosives Smuggling Signals Preparations for Renewed War with Israel
   6. The Jerusalem Post — Why would Hezbollah admit its explosives were smuggled into Lebanon? - analysis
   7. Axios — Rubio urges Lebanon to resist Hezbollah pressure over seized explosives
   8. The Jerusalem Post — Rubio spoke with Lebanon's Aoun about confiscation of explosives from Hezbollah, US official says
   9. Al Jazeera — Rubio presses Lebanon on confiscation of weapons from Hezbollah
   10. i24NEWS — Sec. Rubio urges direct military-to-military communication between Lebanon and Israel | LIVE BLOG
   11. WSJ — Hezbollah Tells the Lebanese Government It Wants Its Explosives Back
   12. Al Jazeera — Division in Lebanon over Hezbollah’s confiscated explosives
   confidence 90%