Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated on Monday that the Lebanese government will continue to exert pressure on all relevant authorities to ensure that those responsible for the Beirut Port explosion are brought to justice—regardless of their positions or affiliations.
اضافة اعلان
In a statement marking the fifth anniversary of the explosion, which falls on Monday, Aoun affirmed the government’s commitment to uncovering the full truth, “no matter the obstacles or how high the positions involved.” He added, “Justice recognizes no exceptions, and the law applies to everyone without discrimination.”
He went on to stress that “justice will not die, and accountability is inevitable,” noting that since assuming his constitutional duties, he has prioritized holding those responsible for this “grave crime” accountable. “No one who contributed to this humanitarian disaster through negligence, misconduct, or corruption should escape punishment,” he said.
From the outset, Lebanese authorities attributed the explosion to the storage of large quantities of ammonium nitrate at the port without proper safety measures, following a fire whose cause remains unknown.
It was later revealed that officials at various levels were aware of the risks posed by the stored materials but failed to take action.
In the aftermath of the explosion, authorities appointed Judge Fadi Sawan as the lead investigator. However, he was dismissed in February 2021 after charging then-Prime Minister Hassan Diab and three former ministers with “negligence, misconduct, and causing death and injury to hundreds.”
His successor, Judge Tarek Bitar, faced similar obstacles, especially after announcing his intention to question Diab and launching legal proceedings against several former ministers—including MPs—as well as security and military officials.
Both the President and Prime Minister pledged in their initial addresses to uphold the independence of the judiciary and prevent interference in its work, in a country plagued by a culture of impunity.
Following his inauguration pledge to safeguard judicial independence, President Aoun was echoed by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who stated in his first speech that the government would exert “all possible efforts to ensure justice for the victims of the Beirut Port explosion and their families.”
