Hezbollah leader wants investigator in Beirut blast replaced
3 years, 2 months ago

Hezbollah leader wants investigator in Beirut blast replaced

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — The leader of Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah group Monday escalated his attack on the judge leading the probe into last year’s port explosion, calling on authorities to replace him with a “truthful and transparent” investigator. Bitar has been the recipient of heavy criticism from Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, who has repeatedly accused him of politicizing the probe. On Monday, Nasrallah spent nearly a quarter of his one-hour speech meant to address the country’s multiple crises to criticize almost every decision Bitar has made. Addressing the families of the victims killed in the blast, Nasrallah said: “If you are expecting to reach justice and truth with this judge, I say you won’t.” The relatives and rights groups have been protesting against what they consider to be political interference and efforts to stall the probe.

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History of this topic

A sea captain is snatched in Lebanon and officials probe Israel's involvement
1 month, 3 weeks ago

A sea captain is snatched in Lebanon and officials probe Israel's involvement

The Independent  

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Iranian moles and 2000lb bunker busters: How Israel pulled off the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah as he hid in Hezbollah's lair 60ft below the surface of Beirut
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Iranian moles and 2000lb bunker busters: How Israel pulled off the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah as he hid in Hezbollah's lair 60ft below the surface of Beirut

Daily Mail  

Israel's assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah with US-made bunker-busting bombs on Friday came as the result of a critical intelligence breach amid decades of infiltration of Iranian and Lebanese militant command structures, it is claimed. Nasrallah died in a brutal assault that saw Israeli F-15I fighter jets drop dozens of munitions on the Hezbollah HQ in Beirut The site …

The Hezbollah terror tunnels standing in the way of Israeli troops: How sprawling 'underground highways' packed with missiles and die-hard militants await IDF soldiers as they brace for invasion
2 months, 4 weeks ago

The Hezbollah terror tunnels standing in the way of Israeli troops: How sprawling 'underground highways' packed with missiles and die-hard militants await IDF soldiers as they brace for invasion

Daily Mail  

Israel has battered thousands of targets across Lebanon this week in a brutal bombing campaign on Hezbollah - but the next phase of war could soon see IDF troops face unprecedented levels of danger. Hezbollah missile launcher is seen hidden in a tunnel A slick propaganda video released by Hezbollah last month showed mobile missile launchers trundling through cavernous underground …

Four years after the Beirut port blast, many decry stalled justice as regional tensions spike
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Four years after the Beirut port blast, many decry stalled justice as regional tensions spike

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “There is a crime, and there are accused, but …

Hundreds protest as Lebanon marks third anniversary of Beirut blast
1 year, 4 months ago

Hundreds protest as Lebanon marks third anniversary of Beirut blast

Al Jazeera  

Lebanon marked three years since one of history’s biggest non-nuclear explosions rocked Beirut with hundreds of protesters marching alongside victims’ families to demand long-awaited justice. On August 4, 2020, the massive blast at Beirut’s port destroyed swathes of the Lebanese capital, killing more than 220 people and injuring at least 6,500. Protesters, many wearing black and carrying photographs of the …

Families of Beirut port blast outraged by infighting over inquiry
1 year, 10 months ago

Families of Beirut port blast outraged by infighting over inquiry

Al Jazeera  

Dozens protest in Lebanese capital against the public prosecutor’s attempt to stop a judge from continuing his investigation. Family members of the victims of the 2020 Beirut port blast have tried to break into the Justice Palace in the Lebanese capital as they protested against the lack of progress in the investigation over the explosion. “They have been demanding justice …

Top prosecutor orders release of Beirut port blast detainees
1 year, 10 months ago

Top prosecutor orders release of Beirut port blast detainees

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — Lebanon’s top prosecutor Wednesday ordered the release of all suspects detained in the investigation into the deadly 2020 port blast in Beirut and filed charges against the judge leading the probe, he told The Associated Press. The decision came after Bitar on Monday resumed the investigation into the devastating port blast, following a 13-month halt over legal challenges …

Lebanon’s top prosecutor charges Beirut blast Judge Tarek Bitar
1 year, 10 months ago

Lebanon’s top prosecutor charges Beirut blast Judge Tarek Bitar

Al Jazeera  

Ghassan Oweidat also ordered the release of all suspects detained in connection with the deadly 2020 Beirut blast. Lebanon’s top prosecutor has filed charges against the judge investigating the deadly blast at Beirut’s port in 2020 and ordered the release of all suspects detained in connection with the case, according to reports citing judicial sources. The decision on Wednesday by …

Former Lebanon PM Diab charged in Beirut blast investigation
1 year, 11 months ago

Former Lebanon PM Diab charged in Beirut blast investigation

Al Jazeera  

Lebanon’s public prosecutor and head of its domestic intelligence agency also are charged in connection with the 2020 explosion, which killed at least 218 people. Other top officials, including the country’s public prosecutor and the head of the domestic intelligence agency, were also charged in connection with the blast, judicial sources said on Tuesday. Bitar’s efforts to interrogate top officials …

Lebanese judge probing 2020 Beirut port blast resumes inquiry
1 year, 11 months ago

Lebanese judge probing 2020 Beirut port blast resumes inquiry

Al Jazeera  

The probe into the 2020 explosion had been derailed for months by legal challenges as well resistance from factions. The Lebanese judge investigating the deadly 2020 Beirut port explosion has unexpectedly resumed his inquiry, after a 13-month suspension due to political resistance to his attempts to interrogate top officials. Bitar also ordered the release of five people detained since shortly …

Lebanese PM criticizes Hezbollah over drone provocation
2 years, 5 months ago

Lebanese PM criticizes Hezbollah over drone provocation

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister on Monday criticized the militant group Hezbollah for sending three unmanned aircraft over an Israeli gas installation last week, saying it was an unnecessarily risky action. Najib Mikati’s comment came two days after Hezbollah launched three drones over the Karish gas field in the Mediterranean Sea. Lebanon claims the Karish gas field is disputed …

Lebanese urge end to ‘campaign’ against Beirut blast judge
3 years, 1 month ago

Lebanese urge end to ‘campaign’ against Beirut blast judge

Al Jazeera  

Rights groups, lawyers, and journalists call for ‘honest’ reporting on the deadly Beirut Port explosion investigation in the media. Beirut, Lebanon – Rights groups, lawyers, and journalists condemned authorities for obstructing the Beirut blast probe by “undermining facts”, accusing officials on Tuesday of leaking misinformation and intervening in the justice system. “The political rulers are using the media as a …

Beirut blast judge summons ex-ministers as pressure mounts
3 years, 2 months ago

Beirut blast judge summons ex-ministers as pressure mounts

Al Jazeera  

Beirut explosion investigator Tarek Bitar continues to pursue political leaders despite Lebanese politicians trying to remove him. Beirut, Lebanon – The lead investigator of the Beirut Port blast probe summoned two charged ex-ministers again as Lebanese leaders continue to mount pressure on him. Lebanese leaders, most notably Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, continue to call for Bitar’s removal, and accuse …

Analysis: How Judge Bitar’s probe shook Lebanon leaders
3 years, 2 months ago

Analysis: How Judge Bitar’s probe shook Lebanon leaders

Al Jazeera  

Experts say judge leading investigation into last year’s explosion at Beirut’s port rattled the country simply by challenging systemic impunity. But even fewer expected that the lead investigator, Judge Tarek Bitar, could rattle the country’s entrenched leadership, which for decades has reigned with impunity and routinely quashed legal investigations that may hold it accountable. “Judge Bitar is giving the Lebanese …

Beirut blast probe suspended again as judge issues arrest warrant
3 years, 2 months ago

Beirut blast probe suspended again as judge issues arrest warrant

Al Jazeera  

Lawyers for former ministers Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zeaiter register new legal complaint against Judge Tarek Bitar. Beirut, Lebanon – The probe into the Beirut port explosion has been suspended after two former ministers facing charges lodged a new legal complaint against the lead investigator. The development came moments after Judge Tarek Bitar issued an arrest warrant for ex-finance …

Court allows Judge Bitar to resume Beirut blast investigation
3 years, 2 months ago

Court allows Judge Bitar to resume Beirut blast investigation

Al Jazeera  

An appeals court has rejected a request by former ministers to remove Judge Bitar from the investigation. Beirut, Lebanon – The Beirut Appeals Court has rejected requests to remove Judge Tarek Bitar from the Beirut Port blast investigation, which were presented by former ministers charged in the investigation. The investigation into the port blast that rocked the Lebanese capital was …

Probe of Lebanon port blast suspended amid legal challenges
3 years, 2 months ago

Probe of Lebanon port blast suspended amid legal challenges

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — The lead judge investigating last year’s massive blast in Beirut’s port had to suspend his work in the case Monday after a former Cabinet minister demanded his dismissal. The development comes amid a growing campaign by Lebanon’s political class against Bitar, who took over the job in February after his predecessor, Fadi Sawwan, was removed following similar legal …

Hezbollah threatened top judge probing Beirut port blast, source says
3 years, 3 months ago

Hezbollah threatened top judge probing Beirut port blast, source says

CNN  

Beirut, Lebanon CNN — Hezbollah has threatened to “usurp” the Lebanese judge investigating the Beirut port blast in a verbal message to him in recent days, a source familiar with the conversation has told CNN. ​ High-ranking Hezbollah official Wafiq Safa ​issued the threat to Judge Tarek Bitar through an ​unnamed intermediary, who relayed the contents of the message, according …

Lebanese MPs accused of Beirut blast ‘cover up’ over trial move
3 years, 5 months ago

Lebanese MPs accused of Beirut blast ‘cover up’ over trial move

Al Jazeera  

Critics say parliamentary move for special judicial body to try officials over Beirut port blast shields them from prosecution. Beirut, Lebanon – Dozens of Lebanese MPs have pledged support for a parliamentary motion allowing a special judicial body to investigate and try caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab and four ex-ministers over last year’s Beirut Port explosion, but legal activists and …

Lebanon prosecutor pauses port probe amid legal challenges
4 years ago

Lebanon prosecutor pauses port probe amid legal challenges

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Lebanon’s prosecutor investigating last summer’s …

French probe into Beirut blast remains ‘inconclusive’
4 years, 1 month ago

French probe into Beirut blast remains ‘inconclusive’

Al Jazeera  

Source tells Al Jazeera French investigators unable to yet determine if Beirut port blast was intentional or due to negligence. Beirut, Lebanon – Lebanon’s lead investigator in the August 4 Beirut explosion that killed more than 200 people has been informed that French experts have so far reached no conclusion on the cause of the blast, a senior Lebanese judicial …

Lebanon’s powerhouse Hezbollah hit by backlash after blast
4 years, 3 months ago

Lebanon’s powerhouse Hezbollah hit by backlash after blast

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — Sara Jaafar joined a group of political activists gathered on Aug. 4 to discuss strategies to challenge Lebanon’s entrenched rulers when their building was shaken and the windows blasted out by the giant explosion that rocked Beirut. After that, Hezbollah began seeping into the system — from having a handful of Parliament members to becoming Lebanon’s most powerful …

Lebanon's powerhouse Hezbollah hit by backlash after blast
4 years, 3 months ago

Lebanon's powerhouse Hezbollah hit by backlash after blast

India Today  

Sara Jaafar joined a group of political activists gathered on Aug. 4 to discuss strategies to challenge Lebanon's entrenched rulers when their building was shaken and the windows blasted out by the giant explosion that rocked Beirut. Jaafar's initial reaction reflected the fear Hezbollah has instilled among many Lebanese and the power it has succeeded in projecting over the past …

Targeting Hezbollah: The Hindu Editorial on Israeli attacks in Lebanon
4 years, 3 months ago

Targeting Hezbollah: The Hindu Editorial on Israeli attacks in Lebanon

The Hindu  

The Israeli attacks on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon following what it called “cross border fires” mark a significant escalation in the crisis that has been building up along the border in recent years. Hezbollah, a Shia militia-cum-political party in Lebanon, and Israel, which have fought two wars before, have been observing a tenuous ceasefire for 14 years. Israel fears …

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