Lebanon president demands Beirut blast indictment on sixth anniversary

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday demanded that the country's judiciary issue a long-awaited indictment into the 2020 Beirut port explosion, stating that "justice can no longer be delayed" as the nation marked the sixth anniversary of the disaster.

Duty of truth and accountability

In a presidency statement, Aoun described the explosion as "not merely a moment of mourning, but a permanent reminder of a duty that does not expire: the duty of truth, justice and accountability." He stressed that justice "is not about revenge" but requires establishing the full truth and holding responsible "everyone who was negligent, failed in their duties or caused this catastrophe, regardless of their position or status," emphasizing that "Justice is indivisible, and the law applies to everyone equally."

Investigation delays and judicial hurdles

Lead investigator Judge Tarek Bitar will issue the anticipated indictment to formally determine criminal responsibility and bring charges against suspects before referring the case to Lebanon's Judicial Council for trial. The probe has faced years of political and judicial obstacles, and no indictment has yet been issued despite repeated calls from victims' families.

The August 2020 catastrophe

On Aug. 4, 2020, a massive explosion at the Port of Beirut killed more than 220 people and injured around 7,000 others while causing widespread destruction across the Lebanese capital. According to official estimates, the blast originated in Warehouse 12, where approximately 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate confiscated from a cargo ship had been stored since 2014.