Lebanese army seizes 245 kg of TNT, foils explosives smuggling from Syria

Lebanon's army announced on Thursday the seizure of nearly 250 kilograms of explosives smuggled in from Syria. Alongside the explosives, the army recovered four bombs, eight detonators, electrical wires, and other related materials. The smugglers were reportedly apprehended and fled back into Syria after encountering an army patrol on the northern-eastern border.

The army did not disclose the identities of the smugglers or their motives behind the operation. They stated that follow-up and coordination efforts are underway to apprehend those involved. Smuggling activities, particularly those connected to Lebanon's Hezbollah militia, have been a significant security concern for the Syrian government since their power consolidation in 2024.

Hezbollah, an ally of the previous regime of Bashar Al Assad, has been under scrutiny. It is unclear if Hezbollah was implicated in Thursday's incident. The day prior, Syrian security forces apprehended three individuals linked to a suspected Hezbollah cell and confiscated rocket launchers from their possession. Reports emerged that Syria and Hezbollah held a confidential meeting in Turkey to ease tensions, although Turkey denied the claims.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry firmly denied the meeting had taken place, stating, "These claims are false. No such meeting took place." Despite the strained relations, Lebanon and Syria have been working on establishing security ties since new governments took office in both countries in 2024 and 2025. Previously fraught, the relationship improved as both nations sought to collaborate and maintain stability.

In a separate development, Lebanese and Syrian security agencies jointly dismantled a cell accused of plotting attacks inside Syria, utilizing phone taps and shared intelligence.