BEIRUT — AUGUST 4, 2025:
Hundreds of Lebanese citizens gathered solemnly along Beirut’s waterfront on Monday to mark the fifth anniversary of the catastrophic 2020 port explosion—a blast that killed over 200 people and remains one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in recorded history.
Carrying Lebanese flags and photos of loved ones lost, demonstrators stood in grief and frustration, united by a shared demand for justice. Many voiced outrage that no one has yet been held accountable, despite promises of a swift investigation five years ago.
“Can someone tell me why we’re still standing here after five years?” asked William Noun, whose brother Joseph, a firefighter, died in the blast. “This file needs to close. We don’t want a sixth anniversary like this.”
At precisely 6:07 p.m., the exact moment of the explosion on August 4, 2020, the crowd stood in silent tribute, facing the skeletal remains of the Beirut grain silos, a haunting symbol of the destruction.
🧨 Background: What Happened on August 4, 2020?
The explosion occurred when a fire ignited hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely at the port. The result was a massive blast that devastated entire neighborhoods, injured over 6,000 people, and left more than 300,000 Beirut residents temporarily homeless.
Initial promises from Lebanese officials vowed that the investigation would be completed in five days. Five years later, the probe has been effectively frozen, bogged down by political interference, legal challenges, and ministerial immunity.
💥 Justice Delayed: Investigation Still Stuck
Judge Tarek Bitar, who resumed the probe earlier this year, has questioned several former officials. However, no preliminary indictment has been issued — a development many hoped would coincide with the five-year milestone.
“We want a preliminary indictment that’s complete and transparent,” said Paul Naggear, whose three-year-old daughter Alexandra was killed in the explosion. “We want to know who failed to evacuate us in time. Maybe then my daughter could have survived.”
Naggear and his wife Tracy have been among the most active voices demanding accountability and systemic reform.
✊ Public Outrage and Global Pressure
Human rights organizations including Amnesty International continue to demand a full, independent investigation.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” said Reina Wehbi, Amnesty’s Lebanon campaigner. “The families of those killed and injured have endured five intolerable years of impunity.”
🗣️ Leadership Pledges, But No Presence
President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, both of whom took office earlier this year, have pledged justice for the victims. In a statement on Monday, Aoun reaffirmed:
“Justice will not die, and accountability will inevitably come — regardless of rank or affiliation.”
However, neither leader attended the commemoration, sparking disappointment among families and rights advocates.
🌍 A Nation in Crisis
The port explosion came at a time of deep national turmoil — following the 2019 financial collapse, the COVID-19 pandemic, and escalating political dysfunction. In 2023, Lebanon was further destabilized by the outbreak of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, compounding a climate of fear, paralysis, and hardship.
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