U.S. diplomatic sources have expressed concern that a shipment of explosives and weapons seized by Lebanese authorities may have been intended for attacks against American interests in Lebanon, according to Nidaa Al Watan.

The concerns have taken on added significance following the announcement that the ban on U.S. civilian flights to Lebanon has been lifted, the sources told the newspaper.

The shipment was intercepted at the Dahr al-Baydar checkpoint on the main highway linking the Bekaa Valley to Beirut. Lebanese security forces arrested two men traveling in a vehicle carrying a large quantity of explosives. Reports put the total weight at approximately 780 kilograms, including C-4 plastic explosives and TNT, although published accounts have differed over the precise composition and quantities of the seized materials. Some reports also said the cargo contained metal fragments and other components that could be used to increase the damage caused by an explosion.

According to reports citing judicial and security sources, the shipment was believed to have been traveling from the Baalbek area toward Beirut's southern suburbs. The two detainees reportedly said they had been instructed to transport the materials without being told what they would be used for. Some Lebanese media reports have linked the shipment to Hezbollah, but the circumstances surrounding the operation and its intended purpose remain under investigation.

The seizure has prompted heightened concern in Lebanon, particularly because C-4 explosives have been used in past political assassinations in the country.