Seizure of C-4 revives fears of assassinations in Lebanon

The Lebanese Army announced the seizure of about 200 kilograms of explosives, including highly explosive C-4 material, prepared for smuggling from Syrian territory into Lebanon — the third such shipment seized since the start of the current month. The Army said the shipment was seized in the Hermel area of the Bekaa Valley and was headed to Beirut, and that the smugglers fled into the Syrian interior. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed there would be "no leniency and no turning a blind eye" in pursuing those involved, stressing that his government will not tolerate any weapons outside the framework of legitimacy. The seizure comes amid fears of assassinations, particularly since C-4 material was used in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and other political assassinations in Lebanon over the past two decades.