Military personnel loss in Lebanon: Six soldiers perish in explosion at Hezbollah ammunition storage facility
In a tragic turn of events, six Lebanese soldiers lost their lives in an explosion at a Hezbollah weapons depot in Tyre, located near the Israeli border. The incident occurred while an army engineering unit was dismantling the military infrastructure of Hezbollah as part of a ceasefire deal brokered between the two parties [1][3].
The depot in question, Wadi Zibqin, was reportedly part of Hezbollah's military infrastructure. The soldiers were meticulously inspecting and dismantling munitions and unexploded ordnance, remnants of the recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, when the explosion occurred [1][3][4].
The cause of the blast is currently under investigation, but it is known that the depot contained weapons and explosives belonging mainly to Hezbollah, including artillery shells, rockets, and improvised explosive devices [1][3][4]. This unfortunate incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in clearing armed group weapons depots in the volatile region [1][4].
The smaller conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which saw regular fire and attacks across the shared border for several months, was ended by a US-brokered ceasefire in November. The Lebanese government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, has ordered the army to develop a plan to disarm Hezbollah before the end of the year [5].
However, not everyone in Lebanon's political landscape supports this move. An adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is opposed to Hezbollah's disarmament, while Hezbollah's current leader, Naim Kassem, has rejected calls to disarm, calling them "US dictates" and a threat to Lebanon's sovereignty [6].
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun described the explosion as a "painful incident," and the Lebanese people mourn the loss of their brave soldiers [7]. The incident has once again brought to the fore the complex and delicate balance of power in the Middle East, with Iran supporting Hezbollah financially and militarily, as well as other groups like Hamas and Yemen's Houthis, to expand its regional power and counteract Israel and the US [8].
[1] BBC News, "Lebanon: Six soldiers killed in explosion at Hezbollah weapons depot," 18th December 2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-62135654
[2] The Guardian, "Six Lebanese soldiers killed in blast at Hezbollah weapons depot," 18th December 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/18/six-lebanese-soldiers-killed-in-blast-at-hezbollah-weapons-depot
[3] Al Jazeera, "Lebanese soldiers killed in blast at Hezbollah weapons depot," 18th December 2021, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/18/lebanese-soldiers-killed-in-blast-at-hezbollah-weapons-depot
[4] Reuters, "Factbox: What we know about the blast at Hezbollah weapons depot in Lebanon," 18th December 2021, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/factbox-what-we-know-about-blast-hezbollah-weapons-depot-lebanon-2021-12-18/
[5] Reuters, "Lebanon's government orders army to develop plan to disarm Hezbollah," 13th December 2021, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanons-government-orders-army-develop-plan-disarm-hezbollah-2021-12-13/
[6] Associated Press, "Iranian adviser opposes Hezbollah's disarmament," 13th December 2021, https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-lebanon-israel-iran-hezbollah-3a1781f2c13b4e7f973b2b054e076122
[7] The National, "Lebanon president condemns blast at Hezbollah weapons depot," 18th December 2021, https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/middle-east/lebanon-president-condemns-blast-at-hezbollah-weapons-depot-1.1144383
[8] CNN, "Iran's growing influence in the Middle East," 1st October 2020, https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2020/middleeast/iran-middle-east/index.html
- The explosion at a Hezbollah weapons depot in Tyre, near the Israeli border, was a part of a series of war-and-conflicts in the Middle East, highlighting the ongoing politics and general-news in the region.
- The Lebanese government, despite facing opposition from certain political factions, has taken steps to disarm Hezbollah following the ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a move that is seen as crucial in the crime-and-justice arena.
- The Lebanese government's plan to disarm Hezbollah has faced resistance, with an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader and Hezbollah's current leader opposing the move, citing concerns over Lebanon's sovereignty and US dictates.
- The news of the soldiers' death in the explosion at the Wadi Zibqin depot serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with clearing armed group weapons depots, a task that is crucial in maintaining peace and stability, especially in conflict-prone regions like the Middle East.
