Rubio urges Lebanon to resist Hezbollah pressure over seized explosives

Secretary of State Marco Rubio pressed Lebanon President Joseph Aoun not to return to Hezbollah a truck full of explosives it attempted to smuggle into Beirut several days ago, according to a State Department official and another source with knowledge of the call. Why it matters: The issue is a test case for the Lebanese government's resolve to stand up to Hezbollah and implement its policy of keeping weapons outside the control of state security forces. Driving the news: Lebanese security forces intercepted the truck last week at a checkpoint on the highway connecting the Bekaa Valley to Beirut. The truck was carrying approximately 780 kilograms of explosives, including TNT and C-4, Lebanese officials said. Two suspects were arrested for transporting the shipment. After the arrest , Hezbollah acknowledged that the explosives belonged to them but claimed they were intended for use against the Israeli military in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah's opponents in Lebanon seized on the incident