Shea Urges 'Accountability and Closure' in Port Blast Probe

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea has called for “accountability and closure” regarding the catastrophic 2020 explosion at the port of Beirut.

“As we approach the sad anniversary of the port blast, we join you in calling for accountability and closure, first and foremost for the victims, but more broadly for everyone who wants to turn the page on the old way of doing business,” Shea said.

Nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive material used in fertilizers that had been improperly stored in the port for years, exploded on Aug. 4, 2020, killing 211 people, injuring more than 6,000 and devastating nearby neighborhoods. The blast was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions ever recorded and was the most destructive single incident in Lebanon's troubled history.

Shea voiced her remarks during an embassy reception marking America’s 244th Anniversary of Independence. The reception was held in honor of students in the 2020-21 cohort of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study program (YES).

The ambassador also said that her country is “looking forward to next year’s elections (in Lebanon) – in some ways the ultimate form of accountability to the public.”

“May the year ahead see responsible steps forward to lead Lebanon out of the multiple crises it is confronting, and toward the prosperity its people deserve and the potential that this country represents,” she said.

“The government and people of the United States has made clear our commitment to the people of Lebanon,” the ambassador added.

Shea voiced her remarks about the port explosion a day before the Lebanese judge leading the investigation announced that he will pursue senior politicians and former and current security chiefs in the case.