The discovery of explosives in Dahr al-Baidar triggered a significant political confrontation within the Council of Ministers on 22 October 2026. On October 22, 2026, the issue of explosives in Dahr al-Baidar became a political battle within the Council of Ministers. Lebanon officials debated the handling of the case as internal tensions surfaced regarding the appropriate legal venue for the investigation. Following the emergence of these security concerns, the Kataeb Party formally announced its support for referring the Dahr al-Baidar case to the Judicial Council. The Kataeb Party announced its support for referring the Dahr al-Baidar case to the Judicial Council. This position advocates for an elevated judicial process to address the incident. The development reflects growing pressure on the state to resolve the matter through higher legal authorities, marking a shift in the ongoing administrative response to the discovery.
Political Mobilization Over Explosives
Ministers affiliated with the Lebanese Forces party departed the Council of Ministers meeting on 22 October 2026. Ministers from the Lebanese Forces party withdrew from the Council of Ministers meeting on October 22, 2026, to protest the failure to refer the Dahr al-Baidar explosives case to the Judicial Council. This withdrawal served as a protest against the cabinet’s refusal to refer the discovery of explosives in Dahr al-Baidar to the Judicial Council. The ministers maintained that the severity of the security incident necessitated the involvement of the highest judicial authority in Lebanon.
Separate developments involve the disappearance of Ali Kayali from the town of Mansourieh. A Lebanese security source alleged that Syrian and Turkish intelligence operatives performed the abduction of Ali Kayali. Reports from a Lebanese security source allege that Syrian and Turkish intelligence kidnapped Ali Kayali from Mansourieh and transferred him to Syria without the knowledge of Lebanese authorities. According to this account, the personnel involved transferred Ali Kayali to Syria immediately after the operation. The source claimed that Lebanese authorities received no prior notification regarding the movement of Ali Kayali.
The Lebanese judiciary has initiated a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the abduction of Ali Kayali. The Lebanese judiciary has opened an investigation into the case of Ali Kayali. Officials involved in the judicial process are currently examining the reports regarding his removal from Mansourieh and the alleged involvement of foreign intelligence services. This investigation remains a focal point for officials tasked with assessing the security implications of the abduction, specifically regarding the unauthorized entry and operation of foreign intelligence services within the borders of Lebanon. The state is now tasked with reconciling these reports with the ongoing judicial inquiries into the disappearance.
