China News Service, August 12 (Dong Hanyang and Meng Xiangjun) Eight days have passed since the explosion in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. However, "explosive news" that the damage is no less than thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate continues to spread. This time, the government announced the collective resignation.
The big bang unveiled Lebanon’s “corner of the robe” to the outside world: Located on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea, guarding east-west main roads and entangled sectarian powers; economy, people’s livelihood and politics are on the verge of collapse; rescue, accountability, and reconstruction are all waiting for prosperity... … The "Cedar Country" urgently needs to bless itself with the perseverance of the national spirit to survive many crises.
On August 5, local time, debris was scattered on the floor of the Lebanese Parliament Hall in the central area of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.
[When the government was dissolved, less than 8 months have passed since its establishment]
The Lebanese government cabinet, which was supposed to do a good job in the aftermath of the big bombing incident and hold accountability, quickly announced its dissolution after Prime Minister Diab’s three consecutive prayers of "May God bless Lebanon". President Aoun then accepted Diab’s resignation, but asked him to perform his duties as a caretaker government until the formation of a new government.
At this time, less than 8 months have passed since the establishment of this government.
Before the announcement of the collective resignation of the cabinet, four of Diab’s 20 cabinet ministers had resigned. Immediately after the explosion, Diab hoped to allow a two-month grace period for his resignation, but ultimately failed.
He said that the current government has been trying to seek change since it took office, but encountered great resistance. The main reason is that “Lebanon’s corruption system is difficult to eradicate”. And he will "stand with the people" and seek change together.
When Diab made a televised speech, Beirut was a different scene.
Demonstrations against manager negligence and corruption of the authorities have been going on for three days. In the already hazy city, demonstrators threw stones and smoke bombs at the police in droves, and they were dispersed by police tear gas. Currently, at least one person has died and hundreds have been injured.
At around 6 pm on August 4, local time, a huge explosion occurred in the port area of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Many houses were damaged, glass was shattered, and pink mushroom clouds and thick smoke rose in the sky.
In contrast, the costly explosion has claimed the lives of 163 people, injured more than 6,000, dozens of people are missing, and about 300,000 people are left homeless.
The "golden 72 hours" of rescue has long since passed, and the search and rescue is still continuing, but the hope of finding a survivor is getting slimmer.
Soon after the Diab government completed its cabinet formation in late January, the new crown epidemic broke out in many places in the Middle East. The simultaneous pressure of Lebanon's domestic economic dilemma made this big bang "the last straw to overwhelm the camel."
[President Prime Minister received information in advance? The cause of the explosion triggered "Rashomon"]
The cause of the explosion has exacerbated the dissatisfaction of the people. Given that the port of Beirut is a commercial port, many experts believe that the explosion was an accident. The focus of the investigation is why such a large amount of dangerous chemicals has been stored in the port area for 6 years, but the authorities have never controlled it.
The picture above is an aerial photograph of Beirut Port in the past, and the picture below is an aerial photograph after the explosion. The vicinity of the port was razed to the ground.
According to Reuters, on July 20 before the explosion, the Lebanese State Security Administration actually sent personal letters to President Aoun and Prime Minister Diab. A judicial investigation in the letter that began in January concluded that these chemicals in the port of Beirut “need to be treated immediately and safely”, otherwise, they might “destroy the capital”.
More different voices emerged one after another.
For example, US President Trump talked about the incident in a high-profile manner immediately after the explosion, thinking that the explosion might be an "attack."
An Italian blasting expert believes that there may be armaments in a warehouse in Beirut port. He said that based on the color of the mushroom cloud produced by the explosion, he judged that the explosion was caused by the burning of a "military missile".
President Lei Aoun said that the Beirut port warehouse explosion could not be ruled out as an "external attack." The investigation will focus on whether the explosion was negligent, purely accidental, or the result of external intervention by missiles or bombs.
On August 6, local time, French President Macron visited Lebanon to check the explosion site in the capital Beirut.
Aoun also proposed to French President Macron who was visiting Lebanon after the explosion that he hoped to provide aerial photos of the scene of the explosion to confirm whether there were aircraft or missiles in the air.
However, as some people called for an international investigation into the bombing, Aoun rejected this proposal. He believes that allowing other countries to intervene will "dilute the truth."
[The political situation is complicated by the political parties, the former prime minister was killed in another big explosion that year]
Although there is no substantive evidence for the assertion that the explosion was an "attack", it seems to be inseparable from the historical and political background of Lebanon.
For a long time, Lebanon has had many different sects and armed forces, leading to division and corruption of the government. The civil war lasted for another 15 years and didn't end until 1990. The war caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and injuries, its economic losses were uncountable, and hundreds of thousands were left homeless.
Data map: Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
In 2005, Beirut also had another big explosion that shocked the world. The assailants carried out car bomb attacks on the streets and detonated a huge amount of explosives. The former Prime Minister of Lebanon who had resigned at that time, Rafik Hariri, and dozens of others were unfortunately killed. Hariri stabilized the economy during his tenure, developed relations with the Saudi and French royal families, and left a ruling legend for Lebanon, and the people were distraught. On the funeral day, more than 200,000 people took to the streets to see off.
In this matter, the United Nations Special Court in Lebanon filed a lawsuit against four Lebanese Hezbollah members, but the case has not yet been judged. As a political and military force in Lebanon, Hezbollah also rejected the accusations and denied any involvement in Hariri's assassination.
Nowadays, the intervention and game of multinational forces have made Lebanon more and more divided. Tensions continue to exist between Shiites supported by Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Sunni backed by Saudi Arabia. The United States even lists Lebanese Hezbollah as a "terrorist organization."
In recent months, Lebanese Hezbollah has been in conflict with Israel from time to time. However, this time, Israel has made it clear that the Beirut explosion has nothing to do with Israel and is willing to provide assistance to Lebanon. The truth of the bombing that year has not yet been revealed; I don't know when the investigation of the bombing will come to light?
It is the people who really suffer. "The Lebanese people have suffered too much." "Russia Today" commented. The economy is extremely sluggish, the Lebanese pound has depreciated sharply, and the food and power crises are serious... At present, about half of Lebanon’s population lives below the poverty line.
[Will welcome the third prime minister within a year, the international community will extend a helping hand]
In response to the ever-increasing crisis, this Middle Eastern country will usher in its third prime minister within one year.
"I hope that the new government can be formed quickly." Public Works Minister Najjar said, "This country can't bear it... An effective government is the minimum requirement for us to escape this crisis."
The Associated Press quoted an analysis report stating that Lebanon can establish an independent government composed of experts from various fields to deal with all the current problems.
Maha Yahya, director of the Carnegie Center for Middle East Studies, said that the best plan is to appoint an independent prime minister and "make an economic and financial rescue plan, while also preparing for next year's election."
The Lebanese capital is in a mess. The explosion was so powerful that the whole city felt the shock wave, the windows of houses were shattered, and the balcony of the apartment collapsed.
The people struggled with the losses caused by the explosion.
In Beirut, thousands of people live in badly damaged houses with no doors or windows. A spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross pointed out, “They need shelter, they need food.”
Sussok Palace was built in 1860 and is located on a hill in the center of Beirut, overlooking the now-destroyed port. It houses a collection of exquisite artworks, furniture, marbles, paintings, etc., which were damaged in the explosion.
Standing on a hill in the city center and overlooking the port, the 160-year-old Susok Palace was not immune from the explosion. It has witnessed the suffering of this country, and has been ruined in the disasters of the new century.
Faced with all this, the international community quickly reached out to help. United Nations Secretary-General Guterres said on the 10th that the United Nations will continue to support Lebanon through the current difficulties in all possible ways; 20 tons of medical supplies provided by the World Health Organization have arrived in Beirut.
A video conference on international assistance to Lebanon was also held on the 9th. The participants pledged to provide Lebanon with a short-term loan of more than 250 million euros to help it tide over the difficulties. (Finish)