The investigation into a Hezbollah explosives shipment has widened, with Lebanese authorities issuing search notices for two people who went into hiding after being summoned for questioning. Lebanese Army intelligence and the Internal Security Forces' Information Branch are also examining data extracted from phones linked to the case. Meanwhile, authorities have been unable to bring in two Hezbollah officials previously ordered to appear for questioning, as the group refuses to hand over wanted members and demands the return of the truck and its cargo. Search notices issued as new suspects emerge Judicial authorities have taken further action as preliminary investigations uncover new information. A judicial source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Judge Claude Ghanem, the government commissioner to the Military Court, had issued search notices for the wife of detainee Haitham Amhaz and the owner of the truck that transported the explosives. The two were summoned for questioning by the Lebanese Army's Intelligence Directorate but failed to appear and went into hiding, the source said. The source added that investigators had made progress in identifying additional people suspected of involvement in the shipment. The move marks a new development in the security investigation, which continues to examine evidence related to the shipment and those involved in transporting it. It also adds two names to the list of wanted individuals, while orders to bring in two Hezbollah officials known as "Sajed" and "Zulfiqar" remain unenforced. Hezbollah refuses to hand over suspects, demands explosives returned Despite developments in the investigation, Hezbollah continues to demand that the Lebanese state return the truck and its cargo of explosives, while refusing to allow wanted officials and members to appear for questioning. The group has also escalated its challenge to the Lebanese state, declaring that it would treat "any attempt to arrest one of its officials or members as an Israeli act of aggression." The judicial source said the preliminary investigation was continuing on two parallel tracks, led by Lebanese Army intelligence and the Internal Security Forces' Information Branch, despite the failure of those summoned to appear. The source stressed that the investigation would continue regardless of whether the wanted individuals were handed over, saying the procedures would run their course. Investigators examine phones and communications The source said data extracted from the phones of detainees Ali al-Kurdi and Haitham Amhaz, as well as Amhaz's wife's phone, had yielded information that investigators were verifying and cross-checking against other findings. The information remains under review, with no final conclusions or decisions on possible further action, the source said. The examination of phone data has become particularly important because investigators have been unable to question the wanted individuals. The source said investigators were focusing on the content of communications and the nature of the connections revealed by the data. "Important information has undoubtedly emerged and is being examined to determine the responsibility of everyone connected in some way to this shipment," the source said.
