Beirut port explosion remain s curious enigma one year after the blast killed, wounded and displaced hundreds of thousands. Analyzing apparent bizzare scenarios may prove helpful in resolving the mystery.
One year after Beirut port explosion shook the whole country, the details is still in haze. Scores of Beirut residents got together at the site on August 4 in honor of those who lost their lives. The gathering also turned into a peaceful rally over the government’s ongoing inactivity. The local officials have offered no response while Lebanon struggles with partisan deadlock, a pandemic, and a shattered economy.
So far, no one of a high-rank position has been held responsible for the mortal incident. Beirut port explosion claimed 218 lives, wounded over 7,000 others, and displaced more than 300 thousand people around the metropolis.
The volume of ammonium nitrate, the source of blast, in the port storage at the time of the explosion was just 20% of the 2,754 tons confiscated by officials seven years earlier. An FBI report detailing the issue 2 months after Beirut port explosion, however, did not inquire as to where the destination of the majority of the cargo had been.
During the first weeks and months after the blast, fingers pointed Hezbollah for a potential harboring of ammonium nitrate in Beirut port. The evidences and documents, however, never settled such an argument. Among the remarks and analyses so far, nevertheless, one has been eye-catching.
A potential Israeli role in triggering the blast may seem bizarre at first glance. Going deep into the matter, however, one finds that there are various arguments behind the postulation.
Lebanon’s economic depression led a harsher direction following Beirut port explosion. Public dissatisfaction and protests along with a combination of inflation and depression directed the county to the verge of precipice.
Neglected Perpetrators
HRW has launched a fresh investigation that includes links to over 100 papers relating to the Rhosus and its freight. The investigation result, however, entails more questions rather than providing answers. The reality behind the hypothesis of Mozambique being the destination of cargo is a main question without answer.
“The ship’s cargo was ultimately bound for Mozambique; it entered Beirut’s port to load seismic equipment it was then meant to deliver to Jordan before traveling onward to Mozambique,” part of the HRW investigation outcome read.
According to the Human Right Watch study, there are three probable causes for the Beirut port explosion. Welding sparks may have created a blaze kindling the ammonium nitrate, according to the first scenario. A second scenario says the explosion was a deliberate act by Hezbollah or other groups inside the country. Based on the third scenario, Beirut port explosion occurred due to an Israeli bombardment.
The third scenario gradually turned into a hypothesis largely neglected by officials but bears serious arguments. A secret sabotage or air strikes before the main detonation are the main hypotheses that took form over time.
The recollection of an official member of Arab digest who was a direct witness of Beirut port explosion clarifies new dimensions. “Shortly after 6 pm, we heard a jet flying at low level from the west and an explosion from the direction of the port. A couple of minutes later came the deeper sound of a surface-to-surface missile followed by another explosion. The ground then shook violently” the man said in July.
One year after the ravaging Beirut port explosion, most questions remained unresponded. Various groups and parties accuse the investigator of the blast with political bias. The Chaos secures the potential practitioners of a blast that ruined Beirut, public trust, and hope simultaneously.
