Lebanon’s army revealed on Thursday that the truck which overturned and triggered a fatal confrontation between Hezbollah and residents of the Christian town of Kahaleh was transporting ammunition, as stated in an official statement.
Following the escalation of the clash, the Lebanese army promptly intervened, leading to the transfer of the truck’s cargo to a military facility, along with the initiation of an investigation into the incident.
The army further disclosed that the truck had been removed from the scene, allowing the road to be reopened by 4 a.m.
Hezbollah acknowledged on Wednesday that the truck belonged to the organization, but omitted details regarding the nature of the cargo. It also confirmed that one of its members lost their life during the confrontation.
A resident of Kahaleh, reportedly affiliated with the Kataeb Party, was also tragically killed in the altercation.
According to Kahaleh’s mayor, Abboud Abi Khalil, residents had encircled the truck, demanding to know the contents, before being met with gunfire from Hezbollah members accompanying the vehicle, resulting in the death of one of the residents.
Hezbollah is unique among Lebanese factions in retaining its arms following the conclusion of the 1975-1990 civil war. However, it is designated as a “terrorist” organization by numerous Western governments.
A funeral ceremony is scheduled to be held for Ahmad Ali Kassas, the Hezbollah member who lost his life in the clashes.
Supporters of Hezbollah shared images on social media, displaying Kassas dressed in military attire in Syria, a country entrenched in conflict where Hezbollah has been actively supporting President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
In a separate incident from August 2021, residents from a predominantly Druze village in southern Lebanon halted a truck transporting a rocket launcher used by Hezbollah in an attack on Israel. These residents accused the Shia movement of putting civilian lives at risk with such actions.