International and Arab reactions continued after the explosion that shook the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Tuesday evening, and resulted in great destruction and hundreds of casualties.
The White House announced that the United States was closely following the Beirut explosion. A State Department spokesman said the department was closely following reports of an explosion in Beirut and was ready to provide "all possible assistance."
He stated that the ministry has no information about the cause of the explosion, and added that it is cooperating with local authorities to find out if there are Americans among the wounded.
Immediate aid from Qatar
For his part, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, telephoned Lebanese President Michel Aoun and directed to send field hospitals to Lebanon immediately.
"The explosions in Lebanon are very disturbing and we have no information about what happened, and precisely the reason for that - whether it was accidental or human-made - and therefore we will need this information to respond," said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced that France stands "alongside Lebanon" and is ready to provide assistance.
"France is standing and will always stand by Lebanon and the Lebanese. It is ready to provide its assistance in accordance with the needs that will be expressed by the Lebanese authorities," Ludrian wrote on Twitter.
Iran and Turkey
For his part, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said that his country is ready to provide any assistance that Lebanon needs in the wake of the Beirut explosion.
Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Qalan also confirmed Ankara's readiness to provide all kinds of aid to Lebanon in the aftermath of the explosion.
"Iran is ready to assist Lebanon in any way," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter.
On the other hand, Israel has denied any connection with the explosion, according to Anatolia news agency quoting the Hebrew press.