Kataeb MP Salim Sayegh on Thursday urged the government to refer a case involving a shipment of 800 kilograms of C4 and TNT explosives to the Judicial Council, warning that delays in addressing the matter could further undermine State authority and expose the country to security risks.

Speaking to Al Mashhad, Sayegh said there was broad public support for the referral, arguing that Lebanese citizens wanted all weapons to be placed under state control and supported the country's legitimate institutions.

He distinguished between the criminal investigation into the transportation of the explosives, which falls within the jurisdiction of the Military Court, and the broader political responsibility arising from Hezbollah's acknowledgment that the shipment belonged to the group and was intended for use as part of its strategy against Israel.

That acknowledgment warranted a wider investigation and strengthened the case for referring the matter to the Judicial Council, which handles cases involving state security, Sayegh argued.

He pointed to statements made by Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah on Oct. 15, saying the issue had moved beyond the alleged crime of transporting explosives to encompass political responsibility for their ownership and intended use.

Sayegh said there was no justification for delaying the referral, warning that any further hesitation in pursuing justice could expose Lebanon to additional risks.

He cited what he described as repeated threats by Hezbollah against political forces that do not align with the group, accusations of treason directed at President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and other political actors, and threats of a military takeover similar to the events of May 7, 2008.

He accused the group of relying on weapons and what he described as terrorist methods to intimidate its opponents.

Lebanon's Penal Code clearly defines terrorist offenses, Sayegh said, warning that the case should not be reduced to the transportation of explosive materials if there were broader concerns about the possible use of such materials in attacks against the country's political system and government.

He argued that the allegations and statements surrounding the shipment warranted scrutiny beyond the immediate circumstances of its seizure.

Addressing the potential political consequences of the dispute, Sayegh said Kataeb was demanding accountability from within the government and through its role in the country's political system.

Lebanon could no longer afford to maintain a policy of managing its disputes with Hezbollah without resolving the fundamental question of the group's weapons and military activities outside state control, he said.

All military and security operations conducted by Hezbollah outside the authority of the Lebanese State must end, Sayegh added.

"The government has already made clear that it will not allow such activities," he said. "It must now either exercise its authority in practice or accept that Lebanon will be governed by a struggle for power, where the strongest impose their will."

Sayegh rejected any further postponement of the referral, calling on the government to assume its constitutional and national responsibilities.

If the government was unable to extend state sovereignty across the country, it should acknowledge that openly before the international community, Lebanon's international partners and organizations concerned with the country's affairs, he said.

Failure to do so could lead to Lebanon being viewed as a failed state, he warned.

Sayegh also said responsibility rested with all political forces capable of influencing Cabinet decisions, including representatives of the Amal Movement.

He insisted that Hezbollah must not be allowed to take control of the country's political destiny or hold Lebanon hostage whenever a security incident occurs.

Sayegh, therefore, warned against any attempt to delay or sideline the explosives case, saying the public and the international community had not forgotten the negligence and indecision that marked the response to the 2020 Beirut Port disaster.

That experience made the government's next move particularly consequential, he said, with public attention now focused on whether ministers would approve referring the explosives case to the Judicial Council.

Sayegh reiterated that the government should not allow political considerations to prevent it from addressing what he described as a matter of national security and state authority.