Rubio urges Lebanon not to return seized explosives to Hezbollah

Summary

Lebanon’s president reaffirmed the commitment to bring all arms under state control, Al Jazeera reports, after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged him not to return explosives seized from Hezbollah. Axios reports that Lebanese security forces intercepted a truck carrying about 780 kilograms of explosives last week and that Hezbollah acknowledged the shipment belonged to it. The National says Rubio also called for accountability and direct military communication between Lebanon and Israel.

Timeline

1. The National

   15 Oct 2026, 20:26 UTCSource ↗

   The National reports that Rubio urged Lebanese President Joseph Aoun not to return the seized explosives to Hezbollah, called for accountability and urged direct military communication between Lebanese and Israeli forces.

2. Axios

   15 Oct 2026, 21:49 UTCSource ↗

   Axios reports that Lebanese security forces intercepted a truck carrying about 780 kilograms of explosives and that Hezbollah acknowledged the shipment belonged to the group.

3. The Straits Times

   15 Oct 2026, 23:21 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that Rubio urged Lebanon not to return the confiscated explosives and says a Hezbollah lawmaker had earlier said they belonged to the group.

4. Al Jazeera

   16 Oct 2026, 05:28 UTCSource ↗

   Al Jazeera reports that Lebanon’s president reaffirmed the commitment to bring all arms under state control.