Division in Lebanon over Hezbollah’s confiscated explosives

Hezbollah said the explosives were to be used against Israel, though political figures and some analysts fear assassinations. Save Share Beirut, Lebanon– On October 5, a minivan was stopped at a checkpoint in Dahr el-Baydar between the Bekaa Valley and Mount Lebanon region. Lebanese security forces discovered the car was carrying hundreds of kilos of explosive materials, including TNT and C-4, according to Lebanese officials. On Thursday, Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah released a statement saying that the explosives belonged to Hezbollah which had demanded their return, along with the release of the two people detained in the vehicle. “From the moment the vehicle was detained, the relevant bodies within [Hezbollah] immediately contacted the security and judicial agencies and informed them that the vehicle and its cargo belonged to the resistance,” Fadlallah said in his statement. “They demanded the immediate release of those detained and the return of the vehicle and everything inside it, as these are capabilities used by the resistance to confront the Israeli occupation of our land in the south [of Lebanon].” Fadlallah indicated that the explosives were for use against Israel, which continues to occupy large parts of southern Lebanon, and not internally against the Lebanese government or other factions, as some political figures and analysts had suggested. “We therefore warn the [Lebanese] authorities of the consequences of continuing to escalate their measures,” he said. “[Hezbollah] will defend its people’s rights and the capabilities it uses to confront the Israeli enemy and it will not tolerate any targeting by any party implementing American demands against our resistance.” But many of Hezbollah’s political opponents, who blame the Iranian-backed group for targeting political opponents in assassinations in the past, fear that smuggled explosives will be turned against Hezbollah’s detractors. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam pointed out that C-4 explosives had been used in previous assassinations, although investigators have not established that the seized shipment was intended for such an attack. Hezbollah has never admitted carrying out assassinations, despite repeated accusations against it, including the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005....