October 13, 2026
Caroline Akoum – Middle East
The Lebanese Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, affirmed that “there is neither leniency nor condonation, but rather truth and accountability,” vowing to prosecute all those involved in the explosive shipment that was seized in Dahr al-Baydar last week, and stressing that his government will not tolerate any weapon outside the framework of legitimacy.
Salam’s position came in conjunction with the Lebanese Army’s announcement: For the third time since the beginning of this October, a shipment of explosive materials, amounting to about 200 kilograms, was seized in the Al-Qasr – Hermel area, and was prepared for smuggling from Syria to Lebanon.
Salam: There is no tolerance for illegal weapons
Salam’s position came during the weekly ministerial meeting and was conveyed by Information Minister Paul Morcos. He stopped when a truck was stopped a few days ago in Dahr al-Baydar, which was heading from the Bekaa to the greater Beirut area, carrying hundreds of kilograms of explosive materials, including the highly explosive C4.
Salam saluted the security forces that stopped the truck, seized its cargo, and referred its drivers to the competent authorities for investigation, indicating that he understood the concern raised by the news, especially since C4 was used in a number of political assassinations in Lebanon’s modern history.
Salam stressed that the government will not hesitate to pursue and expand the investigation. “With the aim of identifying all those involved and the parties behind them, revealing their plans and goals, and referring them to the judiciary to receive the punishment they deserve.”
Salam stressed that his government will deal firmly with anyone who tampers with the country’s security, safety, and stability, and with any weapon outside the framework of legitimacy, whether it is in possession, transfer, or use.
The government’s seriousness in implementing its decisions
For their part, ministerial sources confirmed that the operations to seize shipments of weapons and explosive materials reflect the government’s seriousness in implementing its decisions related to combating smuggling and weapons exclusivity, stressing that the Lebanese Army and the Internal Security Forces are implementing security decisions without exception, regardless of the party concerned, awaiting the conclusion of the investigations.
Regarding the warnings about possible preparations for security action, the sources explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that “these warnings are still being verified, and there is no tangible evidence yet to confirm the existence of preparations of this kind,” stressing at the same time that “the security services are moving with high readiness and in light of great rigor and cooperation between the various agencies concerned, including the judiciary, to implement the government’s decisions.”
As for fears of a possible Israeli escalation in the coming days, the sources say: “We hope that the next two weeks will go well,” in reference to the Israeli elections expected at the end of this month, in light of the anticipation of what security developments this stage may bring.
200 kilograms of explosives were seized in Hermel
In addition, the Army Command announced, on Monday, in a statement, that an army unit seized about 200 kilograms of explosive materials in the Qasr-Hermel area, as part of ongoing missions to monitor and control the Lebanese-Syrian border, and prevent smuggling and attempts at illegal infiltration.
The statement explained that the explosive materials were packed inside bags and prepared for smuggling from Syrian territory to Lebanese territory, indicating that the smugglers fled into Syria.
