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Lebanese President Backs Transparent Investigation on Eve of Blast Anniversary

Aoun delivers a speech on the eve of the Beirut blast anniversary. (Dalati & Nohra)
Aoun delivers a speech on the eve of the Beirut blast anniversary. (Dalati & Nohra)
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Lebanese President Backs Transparent Investigation on Eve of Blast Anniversary

Aoun delivers a speech on the eve of the Beirut blast anniversary. (Dalati & Nohra)
Aoun delivers a speech on the eve of the Beirut blast anniversary. (Dalati & Nohra)

Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun said on Tuesday he was fully supportive of an impartial investigation on last summer’s Beirut port blast.

In a televised speech on the eve of the anniversary of the explosion that killed over 200 people, injured thousands and destroyed large swathes of the city, Aoun also said he was for a strong judiciary that would not back down when questioning any officials, no matter how high they ranked.

“Justice delivered late is not justice,” he said.

The blast, one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions ever recorded, was caused by a massive quantity of ammonium nitrate that had been left at the port since 2013.

One year later, no senior official has been brought to account, angering many Lebanese. A local investigation is stalling as requests by the lead investigating judge to lift immunity and question top officials are hampered.

Protests have been called for Wednesday to demand justice.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai is due to lead a mass at the port to be attended by families of the victims.

A report released by Human Rights Watch on Tuesday concluded there was strong evidence to suggest some Lebanese officials, including the president, knew about and tacitly accepted the lethal risks posed by the ammonium nitrate, which can be used to make fertilizer or bombs.

Businesses and government offices are expected to close on Wednesday for what the state has declared an official day of mourning.

The blast occurred when Lebanon was already suffering a deep economic crisis that has worsened in the last year.

The World Bank says Lebanon is suffering one of the worst depressions in modern times. More than half the population is in poverty and the currency has lost over 90% of its value.

Aoun said on Tuesday he was exerting all efforts to remove any obstacles towards forming a salvation government to implement reforms and lift Lebanon out of its financial meltdown.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s government quit after the blast and continued only in a caretaker capacity. But Lebanon’s main parties have failed to form a new government, with squabbles over roles in a cabinet obstructing any agreement.

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Military Forces Amass in Western Libya for Possible Confrontation with Haftar's LNA

LNA forces are seen headed to the southwestern region. (Screengrab from a video released by the infantry command)
LNA forces are seen headed to the southwestern region. (Screengrab from a video released by the infantry command)
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Military Forces Amass in Western Libya for Possible Confrontation with Haftar's LNA

LNA forces are seen headed to the southwestern region. (Screengrab from a video released by the infantry command)
LNA forces are seen headed to the southwestern region. (Screengrab from a video released by the infantry command)

The military continued to amass its forces in western Libya ahead of a possible clash with the Libyan National Army (LNA), commanded by Khalifa Haftar.

The LNA has been moving forces to the southwest to “secure the borders and bolster national security,” it said.

Despite the assurances, all security and military forces in the west are on alert over the LNA’s mobilization. Military preparations have been reported in Misrata and Zawiya in anticipation of a possible clash with Haftar’s forces.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said on Friday it was monitoring “with concern the recent mobilization of forces in various parts of Libya, particularly in the southern and western regions.”

In a statement, it said: “We commend ongoing efforts to de-escalate the situation and prevent further tension.”

“The UNSMIL urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any provocative military actions that could be perceived as offensive and might jeopardize Libya’s fragile stability and the safety of its people. The Mission calls for continued communication and coordination between forces affiliated to the LNA and Government of National Unity (GNU),” it added.

“The Mission regrets that these developments coincide with the 84th anniversary of the foundation of Libya’s army and recalls the current division of this vital institution,” it noted.

“On this occasion, the Mission reminds all military and security actors of the importance of a unified, accountable, and professional military and security institutions. The Mission stands ready to facilitate dialogue towards that end and provide all technical expertise and support,” it went on to say.

Meanwhile, head of the Presidential Council Mohammed al-Menfi held talks in Tripoli on Thursday with some representatives of security forces in the western region.

His office said they expressed their “support for all of his further steps that aim to achieve stability in the western region.”

The GNU-aligned army command, Joint Operations Command and National Agency for Supporting Forces announced that they have raised the readiness of their forces in anticipation of “any danger”.

In an attempt to ease tensions, the LNA said its forces were mobilizing to secure the southern borders by intensifying desert patrols and monitoring the border.

The mobilization is at the order of Haftar as part of attempts to bolster border security and confront any threats that may target the safety and security of the nation, said the LNA command.

It added that forces have been dispatched to the cities of Sabha, Ghat, Ubari, Murzuq, al-Qatrun, Brak, al-Shati and Adiri where LNA forces are already deployed.

It stressed that the mobilization was ordered given the tensions in neighboring countries and the activity of extremist groups.

The High Council of State expressed its rejection of the “illegal” mobilization, saying it was a “blatant attempt to expand influence and control in a strategically vital region with neighboring countries.”

It warned that the mobilization may lead to armed conflict that undermines the ceasefire and efforts to unify the army, leading to the collapse of the political process.

It called on the Presidential Council, in its capacity as high commander of the army, “to raise the alert level of forces and prepare to confront any possible danger.”

It also urged the UNSMIL and international community to take a clear stance and condemn the mobilization.

Observers said Haftar was seeking through the mobilization to expand the LNA’s control over vital regions close to the Tunisian-Algerian border, including Ghadames airport.

They did not rule out the possibility of the eruption of clashes in the region in the coming days between the LNA and GNU forces.

Every side is trying to consolidate its forces through military allies in the region in order to seize control of Ghadames and its airport ahead of opening a new border-crossing that grants access to Africa, they noted.