Lebanon Seized a Truckload of Hezbollah Explosives. Rubio Is Right: Giving Them Back Should Be "Out of the Question"
In a call disclosed Oct. 15, Secretary of State Marco Rubio pressed Lebanese President Joseph Aoun not to return roughly 780 kilograms of seized explosives to Hezbollah. In our view, this is the test of whether Lebanon's state, not a terrorist militia, controls the guns.
By Clara Hughes
ALTAS WORLD NEWS OPINION | By Clara Hughes, Chief Opinion Editor | October 16, 2026 | 6-min read Last week, Lebanese security forces stopped a truck on the highway from the Bekaa Valley to Beirut and found roughly 780 kilograms of explosives, including TNT and C-4, according to Lebanese officials [1]. Hezbollah admitted the cargo was its own [1]. A Hezbollah official and a Lebanese security source told Reuters the explosives were intended for explosive drones targeting Israeli troops [2]. Now the Iran-backed militia and its allies want the explosives back [1]. On Thursday, a State Department official said Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Lebanese President Joseph Aoun that "returning explosives to (Hezbollah) should be out of the question" [2]. In our view, Rubio is exactly right, and Lebanon's answer will show who really governs the country. Key Takeaways Lebanese forces intercepted about 780 kilograms of explosives, including TNT and C-4, at a checkpoint last week, Lebanese officials said [1]. Hezbollah acknowledged the explosives were its own; a Hezbollah lawmaker said they were meant for use against Israel [1][2]. Rubio urged Aoun to hold accountable "all those who ordered,