Axios revealed the details of Rubio's call with the Lebanese president about Hezbollah

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and asked him to resist Hezbollah's pressure to recover a large shipment of seized explosives and not allow this shipment to be returned to Hezbollah. This shipment was discovered and seized last week while being transported to Beirut, and two people were arrested in connection with it.

According to the report of Ambassador Arjan, an official of the US State Department and another source who know the content of the call between Rubio and Aoun said that the US Secretary of State asked the Lebanese President to oppose the return of the explosives to Hezbollah and to hold accountable all the people who were involved in the transfer of this cargo.

This case has become a test for the Lebanese government in a situation where Beirut emphasizes the necessity of weapons being under the control of the country's official institutions. Now, the pressure of Hezbollah and its allies to release the two arrested members of this group and return the confiscated cargo has put the will of the Lebanese government to the test.

Seizure of 780 kg of explosives on the way to Beirut

Last week, Lebanese security forces stopped a truck at one of the checkpoints on the highway that connects the Bekaa Valley to Beirut. Lebanese authorities announced that the truck was carrying about 780 kilograms of explosives, including TNT and C-4 plastic explosives. Two people were also arrested on suspicion of transporting this cargo.

After arresting these men, Hezbollah confirmed that the explosives belonged to the group, but announced that they were intended to be used against the Israeli army in southern Lebanon.

The opponents of Hezbollah in Lebanon saw this incident as another sign of the dangers of having weapons outside the control of the government and the continued independent military activity of this group. In contrast, Hezbollah and its allies have demanded the release of two arrested members and the return of explosives to this group.

Rubio's warning to Aoun about returning the cargo

A US State Department official said that Rubio, in his call with Aoun, emphasized the need to hold accountable all those who ordered the transfer of the cargo, financed it, or played a role in directing this operation. According to the official, Rubio also emphasized that returning explosives to Hezbollah should not be on the agenda at all.

The Office of the President of Lebanon announced that Aoun responded to Rubio and said that the country's army and security forces are fully implementing the decisions related to preventing armed groups from displaying their power, confiscating weapons and ammunition, and combating smuggling.

Aoun has also emphasized that the judicial system will not fail to deal with the officials of this case and will implement the laws without discrimination. According to a Lebanese official, the Lebanese president told Rubio in the call: "No one will be freed unless they are innocent."

America's objection to the Israel sanctions law in Lebanon

Another issue that Rubio brought up in his contact with Aoun was the 1955 Israel sanctions law in Lebanon. A law that prohibits any contact with Israelis.

This issue was raised after a complaint was filed in one of the Lebanese courts against Neda Hamadeh Moawad, the country's ambassador to America. The reason for the complaint was his phone call with Israel's ambassador to the United States, Yechil Leiter, after Leiter's son was injured in an attack in the West Bank that has been described as a terrorist attack.

According to the US State Department official, Rubio criticized this law in a conversation with Aoun and said that it is "typically used for politically motivated prosecutions; "Prosecutions that prevent taking steps towards peace with Israel."

Aoun's request to America to stop Israeli attacks

Meanwhile, Israeli attacks continue in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials say that these attacks target Hezbollah positions.

Lebanon's presidential office announced that Aoun called Rubio and asked him to put pressure on Israel to stop the attacks. He has also demanded that Lebanese farmers can have access to their agricultural lands without being attacked.

After talking with the Lebanese president, Rubio also called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, the US State Department refused to provide an explanation about the content of this conversation.

The negotiations between Lebanon and Israel have slowed down on the eve of the elections

Negotiations between Lebanon and Israel are progressing slowly on the eve of the Israeli elections. The implementation of the agreement reached with the mediation of the United States regarding the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the designated areas in southern Lebanon is still being followed slowly.

US, Lebanese, and Israeli military officers are scheduled to meet next week at the headquarters of the US military's Central Command, CENTCOM, in Tampa, Florida. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss how to implement the agreement and advance the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the agreed areas.

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