Will Cabinet refer Hezbollah explosives case to Judicial Council?

Cabinet will meet at 3:00 PM today, Thursday, at the Presidential Palace. The agenda includes a request from the Ministry of Justice to refer the case of explosives seized by Lebanese authorities last week to the Judicial Council.

The explosives belonged to Hezbollah, and the group stated they were intended for use against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

Local media reported Thursday that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri advised Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and President Joseph Aoun against referring the case to the Judicial Council — the country’s highest criminal court handling national security issues.

Berri sought to postpone discussing the explosives case until investigations are completed, but Salam insisted on keeping it on the agenda, Lebanese newspaper Nidaa al-Watan reported. However, pro-Hezbollah newspaper al-Akhbar stated that both Aoun and Salam were responsive and considered either withdrawing the item from the agenda or moving it to the end of the session to avoid a vote.

Nidaa al-Watan reported that if a vote occurs, a majority of ministers would likely vote in favor of referring the case, including ministers representing the President, the Prime Minister, the Lebanese Forces, and the Kataeb Party.

The Progressive Socialist Party has not yet finalized its position, according to the daily. Ministers from the Amal Movement are leaning toward objecting, though Berri confirmed they will not walk out of the session, while Hezbollah's reaction has not been clear yet.

Berri expressed deep concern over the general situation in the country, saying in an interview with Sawt Kol Lobnan that Amal ministers will participate in the cabinet session.

He voiced his support for Lebanon's army — tasked with dismantling Hezbollah's weapons in southern Lebanon. "The army is a red line," he said.