Rubio Demands Lebanon Prevent Hezbollah Explosives Return, Urges Direct Israel Military Talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has strongly urged Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to ensure that explosives recently seized from Hezbollah are not returned to the group. During a phone call on Thursday, Mr. Rubio and Mr. Aoun discussed the confiscation of several hundred kilos of explosives. A State Department official stated that Mr. Rubio called for accountability for those involved in ordering, financing, and directing the shipment, emphasizing that the explosives must not be returned to Hezbollah.

Furthermore, Mr. Rubio voiced criticism of Lebanon’s 1955 Boycott Law, which the official noted is being used for politically motivated prosecutions that hinder peace efforts with Israel. The official added that Mr. Rubio "emphasised that the law is impractical and urged direct military-to-military communication between Lebanese and Israeli forces for deconfliction." This direct communication, the official explained, would help mitigate miscalculation and support the phased implementation of the Trilateral Framework. This framework, established in June, outlines a process for the Lebanese army to assert state authority and disarm non-state militias like Hezbollah, while Israel progressively withdraws from Lebanese territory.