Lebanon judge issues two new arrest warrants over Beirut blast

An aerial view shows the massive damage done to Beirut port's grain silos (C) and the area around it on August 5, 2020, one day after a mega-blast tore through the harbour in the heart of the Lebanese capital with the force of an earthquake, killing more than 100 people and injuring over 4,000. (AFP)
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Updated 21 August 2020
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Lebanon judge issues two new arrest warrants over Beirut blast

  • The subjects of the warrants are Beirut’s customs authority director, Hanna Fares, and Nayla Al-Hajj, an engineer contracted for maintenance work at warehouse 12
  • The blast caused severe damage across swathes of the city, killed at least 181 people and injured more than 6,500

BEIRUT: A Lebanese judge leading investigations into Beirut’s port blast issued two new arrest warrants on Friday, a judicial source told AFP.
“The investigating judge, Fadi Sawan, continued his investigations... and today issued two arrest warrants,” the source said.
According to the official National News Agency, the subjects of the warrants are Beirut’s customs authority director, Hanna Fares, and Nayla Al-Hajj, an engineer contracted for maintenance work at warehouse 12, where the explosion took place.
A huge stock of ammonium nitrate stored unsecured for years in the rundown warehouse at the Lebanese capital’s port exploded on August 4.
The blast caused severe damage across swathes of the city, killed at least 181 people and injured more than 6,500.
Lebanon has launched an investigation into the disaster, which many have blamed on official negligence and corruption.
So far arrest warrants have been issued for six of the 25 people currently facing lawsuits over the blast, including Beirut Port director-general Hassan Koraytem and customs director-general, Badri Daher.
While authorities have rebuffed widespread calls for an international probe, Lebanon’s investigation is being aided by foreign experts, including from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
France, which counted among the dead several of its citizens, has launched its own enquiry.


Blasts over Jerusalem after Israel detects missiles fired from Iran: AFP

Updated 12 March 2026
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Blasts over Jerusalem after Israel detects missiles fired from Iran: AFP

  • Iran army says targeted Israel military bases, security service

JERUSALEM/TEHRAN: Blasts were heard over Jerusalem on Thursday, AFP journalists said, after the Israeli military detected missiles fired from Iran.
“A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the military posted on Telegram.

Meanwhile, Iran’s army said Thursday it had targeted Israeli military bases and the country’s security service Shin Bet as the war entered its 13th day.
“The Palmachim and Ovda air bases of the Zionist regime as well as the headquarters of Shin Bet were targeted by drones from the Islamic Republic of Iran’s army,” the military said in a statement carried by state television.