Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar is seeking to refer a case involving a shipment of Hezbollah explosives to the Judicial Council. Minister Nassar filed a request with the cabinet’s General Secretariat to place the referral on the agenda of the cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday, 22 October 2026. "This is fundamental to us," Minister Nassar stated. "We consider it a violation of national security, which falls within the Judicial Council’s jurisdiction." He added, "There are suspicions about their intended use, whether for assassinations or bombings inside the country." Regarding the scope of the inquiry, he noted, "There are no limits to the investigation," and, "The investigation is continuing and expanding." He further affirmed, "The judiciary will pursue the investigation to the end in accordance with established procedures."
Current Status of Investigation
Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation Judge Ahmad Rami al-Hajj and Government Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Claude Ghanem currently oversee the investigation into the seized shipment. These judicial officials have been responsible for managing the technical and legal components of the inquiry since the discovery of the materials. Their work encompasses the collection of evidence and the questioning of individuals connected to the storage and transport of the explosives.
The Judicial Council in Lebanon serves as the supreme judicial body designated to handle cases involving state security, including those that threaten the internal stability of the country. By seeking to transfer the proceedings to this council, the Ministry of Justice aims to elevate the case to a level reserved for matters of high national importance. This legal mechanism exists to ensure that crimes against the state are addressed through a specialized process that prioritizes national security concerns.
Hezbollah has stated that the seized explosives were intended for fighting Israel. Representatives of the group maintain that these materials were part of their military stockpiles for defensive operations.
Minister of Justice Adel Nassar rejected the distinction between different intended uses for the weaponry. "Whether intended for use inside Lebanon or in military operations that could provide pretexts for Israeli wars against Lebanon, both constitute a threat to national and state security and a violation of applicable laws," Minister Nassar said. His stance emphasizes that the possession of such explosives by a non-state actor falls under the legal definition of a national security breach, regardless of the stated strategic objectives of the group involved. The ongoing investigation led by Judge Ahmad Rami al-Hajj and Judge Claude Ghanem continues to examine the logistics of the shipment as the government evaluates the request to shift the case to the Judicial Council.
