Yesterday marked the fifth anniversary of the Beirut port explosion, prompting Lebanese citizens to recall the horrific scenes from that fateful day. The somber atmosphere was palpable as the day was observed as a day of mourning. Key structures, such as the grain silos, have been designated as heritage sites that should not be demolished, accompanied by poignant words reflecting on the tragedy.
However, a significant void remains, as the investigation has not been finalized, the indictment has yet to be issued, and the judicial proceedings are yet to begin. Despite the passage of five years since this complex crime, which resulted in nearly 200 fatalities and around 6,000 injuries, no accountability has followed for the extensive loss and damage incurred.
As the wound from the maritime tragedy continues to bleed, families of the victims, like every year for the past five years, revealed that the truth has yet to heal the deep-seated pain that justice has failed to address.
They await the decision of the investigating judge, Tariq Bitar, to issue the indictment that would pave the way for holding the perpetrators accountable. In the meantime, a street has been named in honor of the victims, and olive trees bearing their names have been planted.
Additionally, a discussion session was held regarding the ramifications of the explosion, featuring testimonials from the victims’ families. A heart-wrenching moment arose when a mother broke down over a photo of her son, moving Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who asserted that “this national wound will not heal until the truth is revealed and those responsible are held accountable.”
In the five years since the tragedy, tears have flowed endlessly, yet no political immunity has fallen despite the 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate that exploded in the port that day, generating shockwaves equivalent to a 4.5 magnitude earthquake. Beirut remains a city grappling with the aftermath, understood deeply in the context of loss.
Amidst the ongoing absence of truth and delayed justice concerning the Beirut port incident, Lebanon received a new American message, which includes a revised proposal from U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack. This proposal is set to be presented to the Cabinet today, with a firm stance on disarming Hezbollah.
Reports indicate that the new American document outlines key areas, including phased disarmament of Hezbollah, starting from heavy weaponry followed by drones and finally light arms, within a specified timeframe. It also addresses Lebanon’s relationship with Syria, emphasizing the urgency of border demarcation between the two nations and with Israel in exchange for halting Israeli aggressions against Lebanon.
This plan also demands Israel’s withdrawal from its southern positions and the release of Lebanese prisoners, alongside strategies for reconstruction and prosperity. A comparison of the final text with the previous version reveals revisions that make the proposal non-negotiable; Lebanon must either accept it as is or face consequences.
Significant Session
Today, all eyes are on a critical session anticipated to produce a noteworthy decision. The Cabinet will convene in an extraordinary meeting to address the crucial matter of exclusive state control over arms, specifically targeting the disarmament of Hezbollah. While predictions abound, the outcome of this session remains uncertain.
Participants are not focusing solely on the discussions themselves, but rather on what will ultimately be confirmed or denied, which will subsequently affect American, Western, and even Arab perspectives.
Sources from within the Cabinet indicated to observers that the situation is complex, suggesting that today’s session might be the first in this government era to present such a multitude of contentious issues, emphasizing that the aftermath of this meeting will be substantially different from what preceded it.
Conversely, there are suggestions that the session may pass without significant disruptions, with Thursday potentially serving as a continuation of Tuesday’s agenda, should the primary agenda of state sovereignty and monopolization of weapons not be resolved.