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Lebanon: Judge Orders Seizure of MPs' Property over Port Blast

This photo shows a general view of the scene of the explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. (AP)
This photo shows a general view of the scene of the explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. (AP)
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Lebanon: Judge Orders Seizure of MPs' Property over Port Blast

This photo shows a general view of the scene of the explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. (AP)
This photo shows a general view of the scene of the explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. (AP)

A Lebanese judge on Wednesday ordered the temporary seizure of the property of two deputies in the case of the deadly explosion which destroyed Beirut port two years ago, a judicial source said.

"Judge Najah Itani has issued a temporary seizure order worth 100 billion Lebanese pounds on the property of MPs Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zeaiter," the source told AFP.

The decision was issued in the context of a complaint filed by the Beirut Bar Association to question the two for having "used their rights... in an arbitrary manner by filing complaints intended to hinder the investigation", the source added.

Compensation of 100 billion Lebanese pounds, some $66 million at the central bank exchange rate though far less at black market rates, is being sought.

Lebanon's currency has lost around 90 percent of its value on the black market.

Both Khalil and Zeaiter are former ministers whom the judge investigating the blast had summoned for interrogation.

On Thursday, crisis-hit Lebanon marked two years since the massive port explosion ripped through Beirut.

The dockside blast of haphazardly stored ammonium nitrate, one of history's biggest non-nuclear explosions, killed more than 200 people, wounded thousands and damaged vast areas of the capital.

After the tragedy, the bar launched legal proceedings against the state on behalf of nearly 1,400 families of victims.

However, an investigation into the cause has been stalled amid political interference and no state official has yet been held accountable.

Khalil and Zeaiter, of parliament speaker Nabih Berri's Amal party, filed around 20 complaints against Judge Tarek Bitar, forcing the investigation to be repeatedly suspended.

Politicians on all sides have refused to be questioned, and Bitar's investigation has been paused since December.

On Thursday's second anniversary of the blast, relatives of victims demanded an international inquiry.

Bitar's predecessor, Fadi Sawan, was also forced to suspend his probe, before he was finally removed in a move widely condemned as political interference.

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Damascus and SDF Face Hurdles over Integration, Decentralization

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF Leader Mazloum Abdi signed integration deal in Damascus in March. (EPA)
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF Leader Mazloum Abdi signed integration deal in Damascus in March. (EPA)
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Damascus and SDF Face Hurdles over Integration, Decentralization

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF Leader Mazloum Abdi signed integration deal in Damascus in March. (EPA)
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF Leader Mazloum Abdi signed integration deal in Damascus in March. (EPA)

The issues of “integration” and “decentralization” continue to pose significant hurdles in negotiations between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), sources close to the talks in Damascus said.

Amid the stalled efforts, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi announced that he welcomes a potential Saudi role in mediation, reflecting Riyadh’s unique influence and acceptance among various Syrian factions.

He made the announcement amid reported Kurdish concerns over Türkiye’s growing role in the negotiations.

Following the postponement of a planned meeting between the Syrian government and the SDF in Paris amid conflicting statements from northeastern Syria, Abdi spoke to Al Arabiya on Tuesday, saying Saudi Arabia “could play a positive role as a mediator” in talks with Damascus.

Abdi pointed to recent violence in the Sweida province as a reminder of the urgent need for “negotiations and reaching an agreement.” He added that upcoming talks in Paris would focus on the mechanism for integrating SDF forces into the Syrian army.

The SDF leader reiterated his group’s agreement with Damascus on “a united Syria under one army and one flag,” adding that the SDF would become part of Syria’s Ministry of Defense. However, he also highlighted Kurdish apprehension about joining the Syrian army “without constitutional guarantees.”

On the implementation of the March 10 agreement, Abdi said his forces aim to fulfill all terms before the year’s end, but acknowledged the process is slow due to “issues on both sides.”

The dialogue between interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s administration and Abdi is seen as a key pathway toward establishing a political process that will define Syria’s state structure and governance model. But, according to Turkish-Kurdish affairs analyst Khurshid Deli, the track faces considerable challenges.

Deli told Asharq Al-Awsat that “the first major problem is the fundamental divergence in visions.” While Damascus insists on a centralized state, the SDF and other Syrian groups advocate for decentralization, believing it best ensures political partnership through a constitutional process that protects all communities’ rights.

The second major obstacle concerns the concept of “integration.” Damascus views integration as requiring the SDF and all autonomous administration institutions in northeast Syria to join state structures individually.

In contrast, the SDF sees integration as maintaining these institutions with restructured coordination with Damascus, preserving Kurdish and other communities’ rights within a new Syrian state framework.

The Turkish factor also complicates dialogue. Ankara exerts pressure on Damascus to uphold its vision while simultaneously causing anxiety within the SDF, which regards talks with Damascus as an internal Syrian matter.

Deli said Abdi’s welcoming of a Saudi role is significant given Riyadh’s capacity and acceptance among all Syrian factions.

Paris is slated to host renewed talks between Damascus and the SDF in the coming days. Deli said France, supported by Western countries, appears to be banking on “softening disagreements between the two sides.”

Both parties remain committed to dialogue and appear ready to make concessions toward a final deal. Deli suggested the Syrian government might need to reassess its approach to the internal Syrian landscape following recent security incidents in coastal areas, Sweida, and elsewhere, alongside its outreach abroad.

French media have reported preparations for negotiation sessions between the SDF and the Syrian government in the coming weeks, involving senior officials from both sides.