عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Italian Expert Believes Arms Depot was at Site of Beirut Blast

An aerial view shows the massive damage at Beirut port’s grain silos and the area around it on Wednesday, one day after a massive explosion hit the area in the heart of the Lebanese capital. Photo: AFP
An aerial view shows the massive damage at Beirut port’s grain silos and the area around it on Wednesday, one day after a massive explosion hit the area in the heart of the Lebanese capital. Photo: AFP
TT
TT

Italian Expert Believes Arms Depot was at Site of Beirut Blast

An aerial view shows the massive damage at Beirut port’s grain silos and the area around it on Wednesday, one day after a massive explosion hit the area in the heart of the Lebanese capital. Photo: AFP
An aerial view shows the massive damage at Beirut port’s grain silos and the area around it on Wednesday, one day after a massive explosion hit the area in the heart of the Lebanese capital. Photo: AFP

Danilo Coppe, one of Italy’s best known explosives experts, said Friday that he did not believe the Beirut Port explosion was caused by ammonium nitrate, but rather an arms warehouse at or near the site.

“I do not believe there was that amount of ammonium nitrate at the Port of Beirut, nor that there was a fireworks depot,” he told the Italian daily Corriere.

The expert, nicknamed Mr. Dynamite, explained that when ammonium nitrate detonates, it generates an unmistakable yellow cloud.

“Instead, from the videos of the explosion, in addition to the white sphere that can be seen expanding – which is condensation of the sea air – you can clearly see a brick orange column tending to bright red, typical of lithium’s presence.”

He said the explosion was that of a weapons warehouse.

“Lithium-metal is a propellant for military missiles, so I think there were armaments there,” Coppe confirmed.

He explained it was not 2,700 tons that exploded, because if it had been 2,700 tons that would mean 100 containers of ammonium nitrate.

“And 100 containers do not explode simultaneously like that. Anything is possible in this life, but I don't think it was ammonium nitrate that exploded,” the expert noted.

Tuesday's massive explosion killed 154 people, injured 5,000 and smashed a swathe of the city.

Lebanon’s Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi told a local TV station that it appeared the blast was caused by the detonation of more than 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored in a warehouse at the dock ever since it was confiscated from a cargo ship in 2014.

Witnesses reported seeing an orange cloud like that which appears when toxic nitrogen dioxide gas is released after an explosion involving nitrates.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Bilal Erdogan: Developments in Syria Will Restore Shared Ties Between Beirut, Tripoli and Turkish Cities

Bilal Erdogan, the son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, waves to his Lebanese supporters outside a mosque after Friday prayers in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. (AP)
Bilal Erdogan, the son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, waves to his Lebanese supporters outside a mosque after Friday prayers in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. (AP)
TT
TT

Bilal Erdogan: Developments in Syria Will Restore Shared Ties Between Beirut, Tripoli and Turkish Cities

Bilal Erdogan, the son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, waves to his Lebanese supporters outside a mosque after Friday prayers in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. (AP)
Bilal Erdogan, the son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, waves to his Lebanese supporters outside a mosque after Friday prayers in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. (AP)

Bilal Erdogan, son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called on Friday for greater regional unity to confront attacks on Gaza, the West Bank, southern Lebanon and Syria, voicing hope that recent developments in Syria would revive historic trade and economic ties between Lebanese, Syrian and Turkish cities.

Erdogan, President of the Board of Trustees of the Knowledge Dissemination Foundation, made the remarks in the northern city of Tripoli on the second day of his visit to Lebanon, where he was welcomed by political and religious figures and locals.

Speaking after prayers at the Grand Mansouri Mosque, his first stop in the city, Bilal Erdogan said he had brought a message from his father to the Lebanese people, aimed at strengthening relations and bonds of brotherhood between the two countries.

He also voiced hope for an end to war and conflict in Lebanon, paving the way for stability, recovery and prosperity similar to the development Türkiye had experienced over the past 24 years.

"God willing, this visit will help end the war in Lebanon and bring prosperity and recovery, as happened in Türkiye over the past 24 years," Bilal Erdogan said.

Turning to Syria, said recent developments could help restore the historic ties and shared economic interests linking cities across Lebanon, Syria and Türkiye.

"God willing, with the recent developments in Syria, the bonds of shared destiny between Beirut, Tripoli, Antakya, Damascus, Gaziantep and Istanbul will be restored, as they were in the past," he said.

"The people of these cities will once again engage in trade, cooperation, partnership and brotherhood."

He stressed the need to revive cooperation between Tripoli and cities in Syria and Türkiye, strengthening economic and social ties and reconnecting communities across the region.

Addressing Israeli attacks, Bilal Erdogan said regional unity and solidarity could deter further assaults and prevent wars from continuing.

He cited what he described as genocide in Gaza, violations against villages and homes in the West Bank, destruction in southern Lebanon and attacks in Syria.

“Those demolishing homes and seizing land in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria and southern Lebanon would not dare continue if the region's peoples stood united,” he said.

Bilal Erdogan toured Tripoli's old markets, the Mevlevi lodge, citadel and several Ottoman-era mosques.

He is due to visit Kouachra in the northern Akkar region on Saturday to meet residents of Turkmen descent before traveling to Beirut for talks with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who will host a luncheon in his honor to conclude the visit.

He kicked off his Lebanon visit on Thursday with meetings with President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, Lebanon's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian and Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut Elias Audeh.

Arab World

UN Rights Chief Demands Houthis Return Body of Yemeni Staff Member

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk delivers a statement at the United Nations Offices in Geneva, on September 16, 2025. (AFP)
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk delivers a statement at the United Nations Offices in Geneva, on September 16, 2025. (AFP)
TT
TT

UN Rights Chief Demands Houthis Return Body of Yemeni Staff Member

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk delivers a statement at the United Nations Offices in Geneva, on September 16, 2025. (AFP)
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk delivers a statement at the United Nations Offices in Geneva, on September 16, 2025. (AFP)

The UN's ‌human rights chief on Friday demanded the return of the body of a Yemeni staff member of his office who died of unknown causes weeks ago after being held in Houthi custody for more than two years.

Mohammad el-Shami's family learned of his death on October 30, more than a month after it occurred, but ‌they have received no ‌explanation of the cause ‌or ⁠circumstances. El-Shami ⁠had been held by the Houthi militia since June 6, 2024.

"Our colleague must be laid to rest in a dignified manner, in accordance with the wishes of his family – which was denied contact with him ⁠for two years while he ‌was in detention," ‌said United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker ‌Turk.

His family said the Houthis had ‌agreed in principle to an investigation in a statement earlier this week. "Do not allow Mohamed to die twice: once when he was taken from ‌his family and disappeared, and again when the truth about his ⁠fate ⁠is allowed to disappear from the world."

There was no immediate comment from the Houthis, who have previously alleged those detained were part of a spy network working for the United States and Israel.

More than 70 UN employees and dozens of humanitarian workers remain in detention in Yemen. A video circulating this week appeared to show one of them "confessing", Turk's office said, voicing fears that the group may be subject to torture or ill-treatment.

Arab World

Palestinian Teen Reunites with Family After Month in Israeli Jail

The mother of Ezzedine al-Lahalia, a 15-year-old Palestinian teenager, kisses him as they reunite in the village of Al-Jib in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, late on November 12, 2026, after his release from an Israeli prison where he had spent a month in detention. (AFP)
The mother of Ezzedine al-Lahalia, a 15-year-old Palestinian teenager, kisses him as they reunite in the village of Al-Jib in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, late on November 12, 2026, after his release from an Israeli prison where he had spent a month in detention. (AFP)
TT
TT

Palestinian Teen Reunites with Family After Month in Israeli Jail

The mother of Ezzedine al-Lahalia, a 15-year-old Palestinian teenager, kisses him as they reunite in the village of Al-Jib in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, late on November 12, 2026, after his release from an Israeli prison where he had spent a month in detention. (AFP)
The mother of Ezzedine al-Lahalia, a 15-year-old Palestinian teenager, kisses him as they reunite in the village of Al-Jib in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, late on November 12, 2026, after his release from an Israeli prison where he had spent a month in detention. (AFP)

Looking tiny in his adult-size grey prison jumpsuit, 15-year-old Palestinian Ezzedine al-Lahalia appeared stunned as his mother embraced him after a month in an Israeli jail.

His first request was a child's wish for his favorite food: stuffed cabbage and shawarma.

The teenager, who had been charged with throwing stones, was reunited with his family Thursday night in an emotional scene witnessed by an AFP photographer.

Ezzedine's mother held back tears as she kissed his cheeks, while the older men released alongside him greeted their wives and children.

Then Israeli troops fired tear gas, interrupting the families' reunions.

Lahalia, from the West Bank city of Sair, reunited with his family in the village of Al-Jib near Jerusalem, where Israeli authorities typically release Palestinian prisoners on Thursdays.

"After the Israelis brought the prisoners out, after we had received them, they fired tear gas," Ezzedine's mother, Rania Jaradat told AFP, adding that the scene was reminiscent of when soldiers took the boy from the family home on October 14, 2026.

"They were afraid that the families would assemble near the gate and celebrate," she said.

After Lahalia's release, she said, "the first thing he asked for was stuffed cabbage and shawarma". She happily complied.

He was released after the family paid 5,000-shekels (around $1,500) in bail.

As the eldest of five, his absence was particularly felt by his younger siblings.

"They're happy that I've returned, but they were very distressed while I wasn't with them," Ezzedine told AFP.

According to the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, 9,300 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli jails, including 350 minors.

Earlier this week, the military said it had shot a 14-year-old in a group of boys it suspected of throwing stones at a passing car in the north of the West Bank.

The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem noted an increase in deaths of Palestinians after the easing of open-fire rules in 2022 for stone throwers.