$2.5M bound for Hezbollah seized at Beirut Airport from man arriving from Türkiye

Authorities at Beirut’s airport in Lebanon seize $2.5 million in cash, reportedly intended for the militant group Hezbollah, hidden with a man arriving from Türkiye, according to sources who speak to Reuters.

One of the sources says it is the first time such a seizure has been made. There is no immediate comment from Hezbollah.

However, “The detainee and the seized funds will be handed over to the investigation division at the General Directorate of General Security,” Lebanon’s finance ministry said in a statement.

In early February, Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam successfully formed a new government, marking the first administration since 2022. The government’s formation comes after two years of caretaker rule, caused by political deadlock and Hezbollah’s dominance.

Salam, a judge at the International Court of Justice, formed the government in less than a month—a rare achievement in Lebanon, where political negotiations typically take much longer. His cabinet includes five women and notable figures such as former U.N. envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame.

Salam’s government will face significant challenges, including overseeing the fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah, implementing reforms to unlock international aid, and rebuilding Lebanon’s struggling economy.

Meanwhile, a fragile cease-fire has been in place in Lebanon since November 27, ending months of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah that escalated into full-scale conflict last September. Lebanese authorities have reported over 1,000 Israeli violations of the cease-fire, with at least 83 fatalities and 280 injuries recorded.

Under the terms of the cease-fire, Israel was required to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 26. However, the deadline was extended to February 18 after Israel refused to comply, maintaining a military presence at five border outposts.

Details to follow…