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Washington Urges Accountability for Beirut Port Blast

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price gestures at a news conference at the State Department in Washington, DC, US February 28, 2022. Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERS
US State Department spokesperson Ned Price gestures at a news conference at the State Department in Washington, DC, US February 28, 2022. Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERS
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Washington Urges Accountability for Beirut Port Blast

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price gestures at a news conference at the State Department in Washington, DC, US February 28, 2022. Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERS
US State Department spokesperson Ned Price gestures at a news conference at the State Department in Washington, DC, US February 28, 2022. Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERS

The United States has reiterated that the Lebanese authorities should complete a “swift and transparent” probe into the explosion that rocked Beirut port in August 2020.

“We in the international community have made it clear since the explosion that ... we support and urge Lebanese authorities to complete a swift and transparent investigation into the horrific explosion at the Port of Beirut,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price.

“The victims of this explosion in August of 2020 deserve justice. Those responsible must be held accountable,” he added.

Price was responding to a question about the judge investigating the Beirut blast, Tarek Bitar, resuming his work and making charges against senior officials.

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US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
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US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.