The Latest Breaking News from Beirut

Judge unexpectedly resumes frozen Beirut blast investigation

The judge investigating the 2020 Beirut port explosion has unexpectedly resumed his inquiry and charged top security officials, three judicial officials said on Monday, more than a year after his probe was frozen by political resistance.

Reuters · Jan 23, 2023

Lebanon: Hezbollah Delegation to Visit Bassil on Monday

Lebanon anticipates a meeting on Monday between a Hezbollah delegation and head of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gebran Bassil, after a dispute recently emerged between the two allies over the Lebanese presidential elections. The Hezbollah delegation includes Political Advisor to Hezbollah's Secretary General Hussein Al-Khalil, and the party’s coordination…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jan 23, 2023

European Delegation Ends 1st Round of Questioning in Lebanon

A European legal team on Friday wrapped up the first round of questioning of Lebanese bankers and current and former Central Bank officials in Beirut, officials in Lebanon said. The questioning is part of a probe on money laundering linked to Lebanon’s Central Bank governor. Lebanon is grappling with the…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jan 21, 2023

Explainer-The probes into Lebanese central bank chief Salameh

European investigators are in Beirut quizzing witnesses as they probe suspected money laundering and embezzlement by Lebanese central bank governor Riad Salameh, who denies any wrongdoing and still enjoys support from powerful Lebanese factions.

Reuters · Jan 17, 2023

Lebanon will name new prosecutor in Salameh case soon, judge says

Lebanon will soon appoint a new prosecutor in a stalled corruption probe into the central bank governor, a move that could delay responses to cooperation requests by European investigators conducting their own inquiry, a senior judge said.

Reuters · Jan 17, 2023

Beirut blast protesters say judiciary targets them not officials

Relatives of those killed in the 2020 Beirut port blast say they have become targets of the judiciary instead of senior officials who have still not been held to account for the huge explosion that devastated Lebanon's capital and killed 220 people.

Reuters · Jan 16, 2023

Lebanon blast relatives questioned by police after protest

Family members of the victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion were called in for questioning after recent protests.

Al Jazeera · Jan 16, 2023

Police Question Lebanese Relatives of 2020 Blast Victims

Several relatives of the victims of the massive 2020 explosion at Beirut's port showed up on Monday to answer questions by police after they were accused of rioting and vandalism during protests over the stalled investigation into the blast. The rioting last week saw the relatives hurl rocks at the…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jan 16, 2023

Police question Lebanese relatives of 2020 blast victims

Several relatives of the massive 2020 explosion at Beirut’s port have showed up to answer questions by police after they were accused of rioting and vandalism during protests over the stalled investigation into the blast

The Independent UK · Jan 16, 2023

Lebanon’s Rahi Rejects ‘Police State’, Spiteful Practices

Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi slammed on Sunday the security agencies over their “police state” practices in wake of the arrest of William Noun, a key figure among the families of Beirut's 2020 port explosion victims. Noun -- whose brother, a fireman, was killed in the devastating August 4, 2020…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jan 16, 2023