Latest news with #WadiZibqin
LBCI
6 days ago
- LBCI
Lebanese Army losses unexplained: South Lebanon blasts deepen mystery over munitions clearance
Report by Edmond Sassine, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi Over the past eight months, the Lebanese Army, working in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the international ceasefire mechanism, has taken control of more than 500 sites linked to Hezbollah, dismantled weapons, and transported munitions. Three separate explosions during these operations have killed or wounded soldiers, the latest occurring days ago in Wadi Zibqin. On April 20, 2025, a blast along the Braikeh road in Nabatieh killed an officer and two soldiers when munitions being transported by an army vehicle detonated. Investigators have not reached a definitive conclusion on the cause, though early findings indicate the extreme sensitivity of handling such explosives. In Wadi Aaziyyeh, another explosion killed one soldier and injured three during an army engineering sweep of a Hezbollah facility resembling the one recently hit in Zibqin. According to a previous army statement, the blast occurred when a soldier opened an ammunition box containing a suspicious object. Investigators have considered the possibility of a booby trap but have not determined whether it was planted by Hezbollah or by Israeli forces in the context of their ongoing conflict. The booby-trap theory is also being examined in the Wadi Zibqin explosion, though it remains unclear whether it was planted earlier by Hezbollah to deter Israeli incursions, or by Israel itself during military operations or through security breaches. Final conclusions are pending a report from French military experts who inspected the site, as well as the recovery of an injured soldier who was with the unit when the blast occurred. Notably, the only two facilities where such fatal explosions have occurred, in Aaziyyeh and Zibqin, are located close to each other. While sabotage remains a leading theory, investigators are not ruling out human or technical error until the probe is complete. The army also noted that in more than 500 previous dismantling missions, no booby-trapped munitions were found. UNIFIL, including its French contingent, has handed over similar sites to the army in the past without incident.
LBCI
12-08-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Deadliest Lebanese Army loss since October: Probe continues into munitions site explosion amid multiple theories
Report by Edmond Sassine, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi The explosion in Wadi Zibqin that claimed the lives of six Lebanese soldiers marks the deadliest loss for the army since October 8, 2023. Three days into the investigation, conducted by the Lebanese Army under the supervision of the military judiciary, a more precise timeline of events has begun to emerge. According to information obtained during the probe, the French battalion of UNIFIL discovered a long-abandoned Hezbollah facility containing a cannon and ammunition. After inspecting the site, the French handed it over to the Lebanese Army, as has been done with dozens of similar locations. The army then conducted its own inspection, spending several days dismantling the cannon and transporting boxes of ammunition. On Saturday, while soldiers were continuing to move the ammunition, an explosion occurred, killing six service members. Alongside technical analysis, the investigation is awaiting a report from the Lebanese Army and the French contingent about the site, as well as the recovery of a critically wounded soldier who could provide crucial testimony about what happened. One theory under consideration is that Hezbollah may have previously booby-trapped one of the ammunition boxes as part of its conflict with Israel, ensuring it would detonate if opened by enemy forces who had previously infiltrated the area. Another theory is that Israeli forces could have rigged the site. This possibility had been explored but not conclusively proven in a previous blast at a similar facility in Wadi Aaziyyeh, which killed one soldier and wounded others. Military sources stress that engineering inspections are conducted before any dismantling or transport, with specialized equipment and procedures in place for handling each box. South of the Litani River, the Lebanese Army operates freely in dismantling Hezbollah facilities, coordinating only with UNIFIL and the ceasefire mechanism. The current battlefield realities and losses suffered by Hezbollah have diminished its ability to maintain complete control or awareness of all on-the-ground developments. For now, the booby-trapping theory remains just one possibility. Investigators are keeping all options open, including the potential for human or technical error, pending the completion of all reports and testimonies that could shed light on the cause of the deadly explosion.
LBCI
12-08-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
President Aoun offers condolences in Yarze for Wadi Zibqin victims, visits wounded soldier
President Joseph Aoun visited Defense Minister Michel Mnassa and Army Commander Rodolph Haykal in Yarze to offer condolences for the soldiers killed in the Wadi Zibqin incident. He then went to Geitaoui Hospital, where he was briefed on the condition of one of the wounded soldiers. The president met with the medical team and the soldier's family, wishing him a speedy recovery and assuring him that he will receive the highest level of care until his full recovery.
LBCI
11-08-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
What caused the deadly explosion that killed six Lebanese army soldiers? Here's what we know so far
Report by Lara El Hachem, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian The Lebanese army's mission to centralize weapons under its control is fraught with danger. On Saturday, six soldiers from the Engineering Regiment and the 5th Infantry Brigade were killed while searching tunnels. The tragic incident likely took place at a Hezbollah site in the Wadi Zibqin area, uncovered by the French UNIFIL battalion and announced on August 7. The site included a tunnel housing a 130mm artillery position and an ammunition depot. The tunnel is deep in a remote valley with a single entrance and exit. It is shaped like an 'L,' with artillery positioned in one direction and ammunition stored in another, both in the same spot. This differs from conventional armies, which typically store ammunition and firing mechanisms separately to safeguard supplies. While the Lebanese army was moving one of the ammunition crates, an explosion occurred. How it happened remains under investigation. The Lebanese army launched an investigation under the supervision of Judge Fadi Akiki, the Military Court's Government Commissioner. The site was examined, and testimony was taken from one of the wounded surviving soldiers. Although the exact cause of the explosion remains unclear, the leading theory is that the ammunition crate was booby-trapped, causing it to detonate during transport. Such booby traps are often left in abandoned caches as part of warfare. Israeli forces had penetrated part of Wadi Zibqin during the ceasefire. Supporting this theory, an inspection of the unexploded ammunition showed it lacked a fuse that would cause it to explode automatically. Fuses were found in other crates. Typically, armies store weapons safely to prevent accidental explosions from shocks or malfunctions. If the explosion was caused by a booby trap, sources say metal detectors may give false signals in areas with high metal content, making it harder to detect explosives. Therefore, the mission requires the highest level of coordination among all parties involved and possibly alternative methods to dispose of ammunition safely to prevent further loss of life.
LBCI
10-08-2025
- LBCI
Lebanese Army confirms six soldiers killed in explosion at weapons depot in South Lebanon
The Lebanese Army announced in a statement that while an army unit was inspecting a weapons depot and working to dismantle its materials in Wadi Zibqin, Tyre district, an internal explosion occurred, killing six soldiers and wounding others, according to an initial toll. The statement added that investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
