U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday to discuss a significant cache of explosives recently seized by Lebanese authorities. According to an anonymous U.S. official, the primary focus of the conversation was the disposition of the confiscated materials, which are linked to the militant group Hezbollah.

During the call, Rubio reportedly emphasized that the Lebanese government should not return the several hundred kilograms of explosives to Hezbollah. He further urged President Aoun to ensure that those responsible for ordering, financing, and directing the shipment are held accountable. The U.S. official stated that Rubio underscored the necessity of preventing the return of these materials, framing the issue as a matter of security and legal responsibility.

While the report identifies the core message delivered by the Secretary of State, it does not provide details regarding President Aoun’s response to these requests or the current status of the investigation within Lebanon. The information relies on a single anonymous source, and there has been no official confirmation from the Lebanese presidency regarding the specific content or tone of the discussion.