Catastrophic blast at Lebanese ammunition storage facility claims lives of 6 military personnel, injures multiple others
Lebanon Arms Depot Explosion: Six Army Experts Killed in Suspected Hezbollah Attack
A tragic incident occurred on August 9–10, 2025, in the southern village of Zibqin, Tyre province, Lebanon, when an explosion in a depot linked to Hezbollah claimed the lives of six Lebanese army explosives experts who were dismantling munitions[1][2][3].
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, but an explosives expert suggested that one of the shells in the depot was connected to an explosive charge, a method consistent with Hezbollah's known practice of booby-trapping vacated positions to target Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) or others inspecting them[4]. However, no official conclusion has been publicly announced.
The depot was part of Hezbollah's military infrastructure that the Lebanese army, in cooperation with UN peacekeepers, has been dismantling as part of a US-backed ceasefire agreement brokered in November 2024, which ended a 14-month conflict between Hezbollah and Israel[1][3]. This ceasefire includes Lebanese government efforts to confiscate unauthorized weapons, including those held by Hezbollah, aiming for disarmament of militias so only state institutions maintain arms by the end of 2025.
Hezbollah has resisted disarmament plans, stating it will not disarm until Israel withdraws from disputed border areas and ceases airstrikes that have killed more than 250 people since the ceasefire. The group's opposition has led to protests in Hezbollah-controlled areas[1].
The Lebanese government, however, has officially supported disarmament, with the Cabinet voting in favor of a US-backed plan to fully disarm Hezbollah[1]. The Lebanese army has been tasked with preparing the disarmament plan, but on-the-ground implementation faces resistance from Hezbollah and its supporters.
Over the past months, Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers have been taking over Hezbollah posts in the area where the explosion occurred[1]. The Lebanese government has also asked the national army to prepare a plan for only state institutions to have weapons by the end of the year.
As the investigation into the explosion's cause continues, the incident underscores the challenges faced in implementing the disarmament plan and maintaining peace in the region.
[1] BBC News, "Lebanon arms depot explosion kills six army experts," August 10, 2025. [2] Reuters, "Lebanon army experts killed in blast at Hezbollah arms depot," August 10, 2025. [3] Associated Press, "Lebanon army experts killed in blast at Hezbollah arms depot," August 10, 2025. [4] Al Jazeera, "Explosive charge in Hezbollah arms depot suspected in Lebanon blast," August 11, 2025.
- The investigation into the Zibqin explosion's cause has highlighted the political challenges faced by the Lebanese government in implementing the ceasefire agreement and disarmament plan.
- As tensions between the Lebanese government and Hezbollah persist, the general news landscape includes regular updates on the ongoing dispute and its impact on regional politics and crime-and-justice issues.
- In Seattle, local news outlets have been following the events unfolding in Lebanon, with a focus on the impact of the arms depot explosion on the region's war-and-conflicts scenario and the broader implications for the Lebanese government's efforts towards disarmament.
