Lebanon Marks Five Years Since Port Explosion

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has pledged full accountability on the fifth anniversary of the Beirut port explosion, vowing justice for victims as the U.S. calls for an independent judiciary free from political interference.

On the fifth anniversary of the catastrophic Beirut port explosion, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to justice, describing the 2020 blast as a “major crime” that must not go unpunished.

In a solemn statement shared by the Lebanese presidency on X (formerly Twitter), Aoun said the explosion, which claimed the lives of more than 220 people and injured over 7,000 others, had “shaken the conscience of the nation and the world”. Entire neighbourhoods in the Lebanese capital were destroyed in what remains one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in recorded history.

“The Lebanese state, with all its institutions, is committed to uncovering the whole truth, regardless of obstacles or the rank of those involved,” Aoun said. “Justice will not die, and accountability is inevitable.”

The president added that uncovering the truth and holding those responsible to account remains a national priority. “We will continue to press all competent authorities to ensure transparent and fair investigations that bring perpetrators to justice,” he said.

Marking the anniversary, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut also issued a statement reiterating its support for the Lebanese people's demand for justice. It called for the establishment of an “independent and impartial judiciary” in Lebanon—free from political interference and protection for elites.

“Lebanon deserves an independent judicial system that delivers justice for the victims, not protections for the elites,” the statement read. The embassy reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to a “sovereign, stable, and prosperous Lebanon shaped by its people — not by outside forces”.

The 4 August 2020 blast occurred when approximately 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which had been improperly stored in a warehouse at Beirut’s port since 2014, exploded. The resulting shockwave devastated large parts of the city, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents homeless and deepening the country’s ongoing economic and political crises.

Despite years of investigations, no senior officials have been held to account, and public frustration continues to mount over the lack of progress. Judicial proceedings have been repeatedly delayed due to political obstruction and legal challenges.

As Lebanon continues to reel from a severe economic meltdown and political paralysis, Aoun’s pledge of accountability is being closely watched by victims’ families and the international community alike, who have long criticised the country’s ruling class for failing to deliver justice.