Lebanese officials have brought charges against 13 individuals over explosives that were recovered from a cache tied to Hezbollah, authorities said. The move marks the latest legal action involving the armed group, which retains a substantial arsenal outside state control and plays a central role in Lebanese politics and security.
Hezbollah responded to the charges by denouncing them as "unjust," asserting in a public statement that the weapons had been destined for operations against Israeli forces in south Lebanon. The group has in the past defended its armaments as necessary for resisting Israel, a stance that is contentious inside Lebanon and among its international partners.
The prosecutions come amid an ongoing national debate about the status of armed factions and the Lebanese state's monopoly on the use of force. Governments and political leaders have long been divided over whether and how to bring Hezbollah's military capabilities under state control without provoking internal confrontation or undermining the group's role in national defense.
Legal experts and analysts say the case could test Lebanon's judicial system and political will to assert authority over non-state armed groups, even as the country faces broader economic and security challenges. Any court proceedings are likely to draw close attention domestically and from regional actors given the sensitive balance between Hezbollah, other Lebanese institutions, and neighboring Israel.