Lebanese military court charges 13 after seizing 780kg of Hezbollah explosives

The short version

• A Lebanese military court has charged 13 people over a seized truck carrying explosives belonging to Hezbollah, state media reported.[Associated Press]
• Two defendants remain in custody, while 11 others, five known only by nicknames, were charged in absentia.[Associated Press]
• Hezbollah acknowledges owning the 780kg of explosives, says they were meant for Israeli forces, and calls the charges unjust.[Associated Press · Al Jazeera]
• Investigators have not established that the shipment was meant for attacks on domestic detractors, a concern raised by political opponents.[Al Jazeera]

Key facts

• A Lebanese military court charged 13 people over a seized truck carrying explosives belonging to Hezbollah.[Associated Press]
• The truck carried 780 kilograms of explosives, including 250 kilograms each of TNT and C-4, and was stopped at a checkpoint on the highway linking Beirut to the Bekaa Valley.[Associated Press]
• Two defendants were arrested during the seizure and remain in custody, while 11 others were charged in absentia.[Associated Press]
• Five of the suspects are identified only by nicknames because their real names are unknown.[Associated Press]
• Hezbollah has acknowledged owning the seized explosives and says they were intended for use against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.[Al Jazeera]
• Hezbollah calls the charges unjust and has demanded the return of the shipment and the release of the detainees.[Al Jazeera]
• Hezbollah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan said those charged confronted Israel rather than undermining state security.[Al Jazeera]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Lebanese military court judge charges 13 people over Hezbollah explosives truckAssociated Press · Wire: associated-press
• Lebanon charges 13 over confiscated Hezbollah explosivesAl Jazeera