Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Presidente libanés rechaza una investigación internacional sobre la explosión en Beirut

Lebanese President rejects international investigation into Beirut explosion

Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Friday rejected an international investigation into the gigantic explosion in the port of Beirut, saying it could have been caused by "negligence" or by a "missile", as the desperate search for survivors continues among rubble.
It is possible that this was caused by negligence or by external action, with a missile or a bomb, Aoun told reporters on Friday, rejecting requests to open an international investigation, as it would amount to "diluting the truth".

It is the first time that a Lebanese leader has mentioned an outside track. Until now the authorities claimed that the explosion had been caused by a fire in a huge warehouse that contained ammonium nitrate, a dangerous chemical.

For its part, the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah movement "categorically" denied on Friday having an "arms warehouse" in the city's port, following accusations that have circulated in the media and in public opinion.

I totally deny, categorically, that there is something of ours in the port, no weapons store, no missile store (...) not a bomb, not a bullet, not ammonium nitrate, said its leader in a televised address.

The brutal deflagration, the most devastating that Lebanon has experienced, fueled the anger of the population, which in October 2019 started a great protest movement against politicians, accused of corruption and incompetence.

The outrage only grows with a government that has shown itself incapable of justifying the presence of 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate in a port warehouse for six years and without preventive measures, as the Prime Minister himself confessed.

Near the epicenter of the deflagration, alongside the giant destroyed grain silos, French, Italian, German and other rescuers coordinated their efforts.

On Friday morning they found four bodies.

According to the latest balance, the explosion left at least 154 dead, more than 5,000 injured, dozens missing and hundreds of thousands homeless in nearby neighborhoods.

A judicial source announced on Friday five new detainees among customs and port officials, especially engineers. In total there are already 21 people detained.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who traveled to Beirut on Thursday, called for an international investigation into the explosion and called on Lebanese leaders to make "a profound change."

Michel Aoun considered on Friday that it was necessary to review a "paralyzed" political system.

Macron announced the organization of an emergency humanitarian aid conference for Lebanon, a country in full economic collapse for months.

The European Commission confirmed its participation on Friday, and European Council President Charles Michel said he would travel to Beirut on Saturday to show the "solidarity" of "shocked and saddened" Europeans.

The families of the disappeared went to the port to try to get news, while Lebanese civil defense teams work with sniffer dogs at the scene of the disaster, where a tense calm reigns.

In a capital with post-apocalyptic airs and in the face of the government's negligence, hundreds of Lebanese are mobilized, in a huge wave of solidarity, to continue debris removal operations or help those who have been left homeless.

The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed its concern about the saturation of hospitals, the shortage of medicines and medical equipment, and claims 15 million dollars.

The needs are huge and immediate, according to UNICEF, which specified that up to 100,000 children have been left homeless.

Several countries have sent medical and health supplies and field hospitals. The European Union has released 33 million euros (38 million dollars) urgently and the US military has sent three shipments of water, food and medicine.

The United States International Aid Agency (USAID) announced on Friday the immediate shipment of $15 million worth of food and medicine, the equivalent of three months of food for 50,000 people and three months of medicine for 60,000 people.

While the anger of the population only increases, the security forces resorted to tear gas in the city center on Thursday night to disperse dozens of protesters angry at the incompetence and corruption of the authorities.

On social media, posts are circulating to call a demonstration against the government on Saturday.

Lebanese authorities say the warehouse exploded after a fire. The port authorities, customs services and some security services knew there were dangerous chemicals in storage, but they blamed each other.

In addition to ammonium nitrate, the military prosecutor spoke of the presence of "highly flammable slow-burning materials," according to a statement.

Dozens of people are being questioned, a judicial source told AFP on Friday, saying that "senior officials" could be detained and speaking of a division of responsibilities.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Russian Research Vessel 'Yantar' Tracked Mapping Europe’s Subsea Cables, Raising Security Alarms
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Trump Says Ukraine Can Fully Restore Borders with NATO Backing
Europe Signals Stronger Support for Taiwan at Major Taipei Defence Show
Germany Weighs Excluding France from Key European Fighter Jet Programme
Cyberattack Disrupts Check-in and Boarding Systems at Major European Airports
Björn Borg Breaks Silence: Memoir Reveals Addiction, Shame and Cancer Battle
When Extremism Hijacks Idealism: How the Baader-Meinhof Gang Emerged and Fell
JWST Data Brings TRAPPIST-1e Closer to Earth-Like Habitability
Trump Orders $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visas and Launches ‘Gold Card’ Immigration Pathway
France’s Looming Budget Crisis and Political Fracture Raise Fears of Becoming Europe’s “Sick Man”
Three Russian MiG-31 Jets Breach Estonian Airspace in ‘Unprecedentedly Brazen’ NATO Incident
European manufacturers against ban on polluting cars: "The industry may collapse"
Turkish car manufacturer Togg Enters German Market with 5-Star Electric Sedan and SUV to Challenge European EV Brands
Christian Brueckner Released from German Prison after Serving Unrelated Sentence
World’s Longest Direct Flight China Eastern to Launch 29-Hour Shanghai–Buenos Aires Direct Flight via Auckland in December
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
×