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Bulgarian Court Rejects Lebanon's Extradition Request for Russian Over Beirut Blast

Igor Grechushkin, a Russian businessman based in Cyprus, is escorted by police before the start of his trial on the possible extradition to Lebanon, in Sofia, Bulgaria, December 10, 2025. REUTERS
Igor Grechushkin, a Russian businessman based in Cyprus, is escorted by police before the start of his trial on the possible extradition to Lebanon, in Sofia, Bulgaria, December 10, 2025. REUTERS
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Bulgarian Court Rejects Lebanon's Extradition Request for Russian Over Beirut Blast

Igor Grechushkin, a Russian businessman based in Cyprus, is escorted by police before the start of his trial on the possible extradition to Lebanon, in Sofia, Bulgaria, December 10, 2025. REUTERS
Igor Grechushkin, a Russian businessman based in Cyprus, is escorted by police before the start of his trial on the possible extradition to Lebanon, in Sofia, Bulgaria, December 10, 2025. REUTERS

A Bulgarian court has rejected Lebanon's request to extradite a Russian shipowner linked to the 2020 Beirut port blast, citing insufficient security guarantees from Lebanese authorities.

Igor Grechushkin, a Cyprus-based Russian businessman whose vessel transported the explosive material that detonated at Beirut port in August 2020, killing more than 220 people, was detained in Bulgaria in September for possible extradition to Lebanon, where he is wanted over his role in the disaster, Reuters reported.

"According to the court, Lebanon did not provide sufficient evidence to ensure that the death penalty will not be imposed on him or, if imposed, will not be carried out," Ekaterina Dimitrova, Grechushkin's lawyer, told reporters after the hearing which was closed to media.

The blast, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, devastated large parts of Beirut and left tens of thousands homeless. Grechushkin was placed on Interpol’s wanted list at Lebanon's request in 2020.

PROSECUTOR TO APPEAL RULING

Angel Kanev, the supervising prosecutor, said he would appeal the ruling, arguing that Lebanon’s justice minister, Supreme Court and Prosecutor General had all provided the required guarantees.

"Given that they have been given by such an authority ... I believe that the grounds for extradition exist," Kanev told reporters.

In response to a question about Bulgaria's objection to a possible death penalty for Grechushkin, a Lebanese judicial source said Beirut "could not change its laws on a case-by-case basis", but that it was working on a way to reassure Bulgaria and that it intended to appeal Wednesday's decision.

The source said the investigative judge presiding over the probe would still have the opportunity to question Grechushkin in person in Bulgaria.

"It's a victory for the time being because the most important thing is that he is questioned so we can find out the truth and have accountability," the source told Reuters.

Lebanon's probe into the causes of the blast and possible negligence by top Lebanese officials has dragged on for years, with families of the explosion's victims blaming political interference.

The first investigative judge was removed after charging top officials. His successor, Tarek Bitar, also charged senior politicians, who refused questioning, denied wrongdoing and froze his probe.

Bitar resumed his investigation earlier this year and has questioned several officials in recent months but he has yet to issue a long-awaited preliminary indictment.

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Arab World

Israel Puts Military on Alert for Oct 7 Anniversary, Warns Gazans

Residents gather on a hill on October 1, 2026, in Sderot, one of the areas in southern Israel attacked by Hamas three years prior. Oded Balilty, AP
Residents gather on a hill on October 1, 2026, in Sderot, one of the areas in southern Israel attacked by Hamas three years prior. Oded Balilty, AP
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Israel Puts Military on Alert for Oct 7 Anniversary, Warns Gazans

Residents gather on a hill on October 1, 2026, in Sderot, one of the areas in southern Israel attacked by Hamas three years prior. Oded Balilty, AP
Residents gather on a hill on October 1, 2026, in Sderot, one of the areas in southern Israel attacked by Hamas three years prior. Oded Balilty, AP

Israel's defense minister on Tuesday said he had put the military on high alert before the anniversary of Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, warning Gazans would pay a "heavy price" if forces were harmed.

The office of Defense Minister Israel Katz said the instruction came "in light of intelligence regarding Hamas's intentions to attempt to carry out attacks and terror operations against our forces in Gaza on that day".

"If, heaven forbid, our forces are harmed, the ones who will pay the heavy price will be Hamas and the population of Gaza -- beyond all proportion," the statement added.

Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack was the deadliest day in Israel's history, resulting in the deaths of 1,221 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also dragged 251 hostages into Gaza, 44 of them already dead.

In response, Israel launched a military offensive that has left most of Gaza in ruins and killed more than 74,200 people, according to Gaza's health ministry, which is under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.

Since a ceasefire was declared last October, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,440 people in Gaza, according to the ministry.

On Monday, during a state ceremony to mark three years since the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would be "no Hamas rule in Gaza" and vowed to continue targeting anyone who was involved in the attack or who held hostages.

Arab World

Berri Reins In Hezbollah Campaign against Lebanese Prime Minister

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam inspects the Nabatieh Gendarmerie unit last Friday (National News Agency) 
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam inspects the Nabatieh Gendarmerie unit last Friday (National News Agency) 
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Berri Reins In Hezbollah Campaign against Lebanese Prime Minister

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam inspects the Nabatieh Gendarmerie unit last Friday (National News Agency) 
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam inspects the Nabatieh Gendarmerie unit last Friday (National News Agency) 

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has moved to rein in political attacks by his ally Hezbollah against Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, with sources close to Berri telling Asharq Al-Awsat that he pushed for a de-escalation between Salam and a large segment of residents in southern Lebanon.

The shift was reflected in Salam’s visit to Nabatieh on Friday and reinforced in a Sunday interview on NBN, a channel affiliated with Berri’s Amal Movement. Salam reiterated the government’s position on Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon and its commitment to restoring the state’s role and activating its institutions there.

Salam’s meetings Monday offered further signs of a drive to strengthen the state’s presence in the south. He met Berri to discuss political and field developments, pressing social and economic conditions, the outcome of his US visits and his Nabatieh tour and projects launched there, the speaker’s office said.

At the Grand Serail, Salam met Head of Council for the South Hashem Haidar, who briefed him on the council’s work and projects announced during the Nabatieh visit and steps taken to begin them.

Positive signs

Friday’s trip was Salam’s third visit to the south in three months. It was notably coordinated, with Amal MP Hani Qobeissi welcoming him alongside Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, himself from Nabatieh, and Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar. Municipal leaders from Nabatieh-area villages aligned with Hezbollah also joined the reception.

Although Hezbollah’s political representatives were absent, the group issued no statement criticizing the visit or Salam, unlike on previous occasions — a sign of the de-escalation promoted by Berri.

Sources following the visit noted that the tour and meetings “repaired a large part of the relationship between Salam and the people of the region.” They said Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad, the party’s representative in Nabatieh, was absent because he does not attend social occasions for security reasons. Hezbollah-aligned municipalities took part, while opposition to the visit appeared marginal.

In another sign of de-escalation, Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah said Monday the group supported strengthening the state’s role in the south and having it assume full responsibility, “but that begins with expelling the occupation, stopping the aggression and ending this bulldozing operations and destruction in our villages.”

He urged the state to match words with actions, backed development initiatives in the south and called for the disbursement of a $250 million World Bank loan, part of which is allocated to the region, as well as increased government spending there in the 2027 budget.

Berri consistent with his demands

Unlike Hezbollah, which has attacked Salam in recent months, communication between the prime minister and Berri has continued. Berri has pressed for activating state institutions in the south, securing stability and the ceasefire, enabling residents to return to their villages and providing services to bolster their steadfastness, despite opposing direct negotiations with Israel and having earlier declared the “framework agreement” defunct.

Amal sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Berri was consistent with his demand for state institutions to be present in the south. Salam’s visit, they said, confirmed the executive authority’s intention to strengthen that presence, making it natural for Amal and its Development and Liberation bloc to “meet it halfway.”

The sources underlined that the visit “soothed the wounds of southerners” and opened the door to a stronger state presence. They also pointed to Salam’s acknowledgment that resources were limited and reconstruction required international support because Lebanon could not undertake it alone.

‘No punishment of any community’

In Sunday’s NBN interview, Salam said: “The state cannot remain in a state of waiting. We must go to the south and to all regions and assume our responsibilities.”

He reiterated the need to stop Israeli attacks, consolidate the ceasefire, secure Israel’s withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory and work for the release of prisoners.

“When I return for a fourth time to Nabatieh and Tyre, I want to see with my own eyes that water and electricity have been restored, that the contracts we launched are actually being implemented, that schools are being repaired, and that our people are returning and feel safe,” Salam added.

“If I wanted to punish a particular community, I would not personally be following these operations and the response to demands every day.”

Salam stressed that dialogue with all sides remained open, adding that agreed measures now had to be implemented and each side must honor its commitments.

Addressing residents of the south, he said: “You are not alone. The state is with you, beside you and at your service,” citing the presence of security agencies, institutions and services in Nabatieh.

Arab World

Lebanon, Britain to Hold Joint Military Exercise Starting Tuesday

A Lebanese flag flies as buildings lie in ruins in Mansouri, as seen from Henniye, Lebanon, September 29, 2026. (Reuters)
A Lebanese flag flies as buildings lie in ruins in Mansouri, as seen from Henniye, Lebanon, September 29, 2026. (Reuters)
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Lebanon, Britain to Hold Joint Military Exercise Starting Tuesday

A Lebanese flag flies as buildings lie in ruins in Mansouri, as seen from Henniye, Lebanon, September 29, 2026. (Reuters)
A Lebanese flag flies as buildings lie in ruins in Mansouri, as seen from Henniye, Lebanon, September 29, 2026. (Reuters)

Lebanon's army will hold exercises with the British military this month, both sides said on Monday, with the drills also to involve personnel and representatives from countries including the United States and France.

Britain has been a key supporter of the cash-strapped Lebanese army and has provided millions of dollars in assistance over the years, including helping train Lebanese soldiers to secure the country's land borders.

The Lebanese army said that the joint "Pegasus Cedar 2026" exercise would begin on Tuesday and aimed to "bolster the capabilities of military units and raise the level of coordination between the Lebanese army and friendly armies".

It said the exercise would include "training on reconnaissance, raids and combat in built-up areas", among other activities.

A British embassy statement said British soldiers based in Cyprus would "join their Lebanese counterparts in the Air Assault Regiment in a landmark military exercise aimed at strengthening bilateral defense ties and enhancing operational readiness".

"Personnel from the armies of the United States and Italy will also take part, with representatives from the armies of France, Cyprus, Qatar, and Jordan joining as observers," it added.

The exercise, to be held over three weeks, builds on a previous UK-Lebanon military training exercise held in September 2023, the embassy statement added.

Lebanese authorities have called for increased support for the country's under-resourced army, which counts some 80,000 personnel and depends heavily on foreign aid.

The military faces enormous challenges in completing its deployment to south Lebanon under a framework agreement reached in June between Israel and Lebanon that involves the disarmament of the Hezbollah group and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Hezbollah drew the country into the Middle East war in March by attacking Israel, which responded with massive airstrikes and a ground invasion.

While violence has dropped since June, Israel still carries out attacks and demolitions, and its troops are occupying a self-declared "security zone" running around 10 kilometers (six miles) inside Lebanon along the border.

The fighting followed another conflict that erupted in 2023 that led to an all-out war the following year.

Last month in Paris, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and Jordan's King Abdullah II, and discussed international support for the country's military.