Lebanon has issued arrest warrants for two detained Hezbollah members as part of an investigation into a truck carrying explosives seized in the eastern Dahr al-Baidar area, the country's National News Agency reported, as carried by the Middle East Monitor. The warrants were issued on Thursday by First Military Investigative Judge Ghada Abu Alwan.

The two men, named as Ali al-Kurdi and Haitham Amhaz, were questioned in the presence of their lawyer before the warrants placed them under formal judicial detention. The truck was carrying 780 kilograms of explosives, according to the Middle East Forum Insider, which also reported the warrants. Judge Abu Alwan postponed until 17 November the questioning of six other defendants who remain at liberty, after their lawyer filed procedural objections.

Charges come as UN force prepares to leave

Lebanese judicial authorities had already charged 13 people on 30 October in connection with the case. The move comes as the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, prepares to withdraw, with its mandate due to expire in less than two months, raising security concerns in the south.

The case also comes amid warnings from Lebanon's prime minister, Nawaf Salam, against dragging the country into a new regional war. After meeting President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday, Salam condemned any involvement by Lebanese individuals or groups in the affairs of other Arab countries, most recently actions announced by the government of Yemen.

Yemen's interior minister said this week that seven Hezbollah experts and 14 members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard were directing Houthi operations, describing the arrangement as a fully fledged military general staff rather than a training mission. Hezbollah has not publicly responded to the Lebanese charges.