2025 Wadi Zibqin explosion

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An explosion took place on August 9, 2025, in Wadi Zibqin, Southern Lebanon. The explosion was caused during the Lebanese Army was dismantling munitions at a Hezbollah-linked weapons depot killing 6 soldiers and injured several others.

Contents

Background

Wadi Zibqin is a village in Southern Lebanon, located close to the border with Israel. For decades the area has been under the influence of Hezbollah. Despite UNIFIL's presence in the area Hezbollah continued storing wepons and munition, defying United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. [1] Since November 2024 and the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army have been conducting an operation to dimantle Hezbollah's military infrastructure in Southern Lebanon. [2] [3] During that time UNIFIL reported it found more than 225 weapons site belonging to Hezbollah. According to reports, the weapon site was allready inspected by the French battalion, lowering the level of danger. [2] On August 5, 2025 the Lebanese government aprroved the U.S. intiative for the disarmement of Hezbollah. [4] [5]

The explosion

On August 9, 2025, soldiers of the engineering unit and the 5th Infantry Brigade arrived to Wadi Zibqin to remove and dismantle weapons and munition from a depot of Hezbollah. [6] [2] [7] [8] While doing so an explosoion occured resulting in the killing of six soldier, injuring others. The reason for the explosion is atill under investigation, but some sources claim this was a planned ambush by Hezbollah. [9] [7] [10]

Investigations

The reason for the explosion remains unknown, but several speculations have been made by various sources. Most sources agree to the claim that this was a Hezbollah munition depot. [2] [8] [9] [11] [6] Some of them claim that the explosion was caused by left overs from Israeli military actions, while others say, that the Lebanese expert soldiers may have not operated according to safety standards. [7] According one source one of the shells in the depot was rigged. [10]

Reactions

Joseph Aoun

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun stated that this is a painful incidient expressin “deep sadness over the martyrdom of the soldiers,” he offered condolences to the soldier's fammilies, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. [8] in addition he qwas quated saying "“The country has lost today a group of its finest men, who sacrificed their pure souls in defense of Lebanon’s territory and sovereignty". [8]

Nawaf Salam

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam used his X account to praise the dead soldiers on their will to fullfil their national duty, calling them “martyrs”. [11]

UNIFIL

Diodato Abagnara, Head of UNIFIL paid his respects to the families of the dead soldiers, saying they were: “simply doing their job to restore stability and avoid a return to open conflict”. [12]

Jordan

King Abdullah II expressed his condolances to President Aoun over a phone call, reaffirming the solidarity with Lebanon and jordan's support of the Lebanese Army in its efforts presserving national stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. [13]

See also

References

  1. "» UNIFIL Finds Hundreds of Hezbollah Arms Stashes in Southern Lebanon" . Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  2. 1 2 3 4 عضيمي, نخلة (2025). "بين الحل الشامل والانفجار العسكري.. أربعة سيناريوات محتملة لمسار نزع سلاح "حزب الله"".
  3. "Six Lebanese soldiers killed in explosion in southern Lebanon". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  4. "New disarmament push raises old question: How did Hezbollah keep its weapons?". LBCIV7. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  5. "Lebanese cabinet approves 'objectives' of US plan to disarm Hezbollah". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  6. 1 2 "Explosion at Lebanese arms depot kills 6 army experts, wounds several others". AP News. 2025-08-09. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  7. 1 2 3 "Wadi Zebqin Blast: Accident or Deliberate Attack?". This is Beirut. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Hezbollah ammunition depot explosion kills 6 soldiers south of Litani". Arab News. 2025-08-09. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  9. 1 2 "شهداء كمين "حزب الله"". نداء الوطن. 2025-08-11. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  10. 1 2 "شهداء كمين "الحزب"". MTV Lebanon. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  11. 1 2 Shami, Kamal (2025-08-10). "Explosion at Hezbollah site kills six Lebanese soldiers in south Lebanon". 5Pillars. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  12. "Details emerge: Six Lebanese soldiers killed in South Lebanon explosion". LBCIV7. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  13. "Jordan's King offers condolences to Aoun over death of six Lebanese soldiers in Wadi Zibqin". L'Orient Today. 2025-08-10. Retrieved 2025-08-11.