© AFP / Magazine image
The Lebanese Ministry of Health told news agency AFP just before the turn of the day on Wednesday that at least 73 people had been killed and more than 3,700 injured in Tuesday’s explosion in Beirut. NEWSPAPER / AFP Anwar Amro
According to U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. generals have told him that the Beirut explosion appears to have been caused by “some kind of bomb.” However, the defense officials interviewed by news channel CNN disagree with Trump.
– It looks like a terrible blow, Trump told reporters at the White House.
At the same press conference, he was asked if he was quite sure it was an attack and not an accident. According to Trump, based on the explosion, it looks like it was an attack, though.
He said he had met a few generals who also seemed to think it was an attack. According to CNN, Trump reports that this was not a “industrial explosion-type” case in the opinion of the generals.
– This seems to be according to them – they would know better than I do, but they seem to think it was a blow. It was some kind of bomb, Trump continued, according to CNN.
The defense authorities do not know what the president is talking about
At least three U.S. defense officials have made estimates that differ from the bombings made by Trump. Officials who spoke to CNN said they had not seen any indication that it was an attack, as the president suggested.
Officials who commented anonymously said they did not know what the president was talking about.
One of the interviewees pointed out that if there were any indications that someone had committed an attack on this scale in the area, it would automatically increase the protection of U.S. forces. This would already happen in the event of possible retaliation.
According to the official who pointed it out, this has not happened so far.
Nor have the events in the capital been described by the Lebanese authorities as an attack or an attack. According to the Lebanese Prime Minister, about 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded in the port of Beirut. A spokesman for Prime Minister Hassan Diab said at a press conference that Diab had commented on the events in Beirut at a meeting of the Lebanese Security Council.
Lebanese security chief Abbas Ibrahim previously told AFP that the explosion could be caused by highly explosive materials seized years ago and stored in the port.
The news agency AFP has also asked a representative of the Department of Defense about Trump’s comments, but he instructed to seek clarification on the comments from the Trump administration.
Biden also sent condolences
On Tuesday, Trump also sent the deepest sympathies of the United States to the Lebanese. He also said the United States is ready to help Lebanon. According to him, the United States has a very good relationship with the Lebanese.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden also reacted to the Beirut bombings, but did not describe what happened as an attack.
“Our hearts and prayers are with the Lebanese and the victims of the terrible explosion in Beirut,” Biden said on Twitter.
“I urge both the Trump administration and the international community to immediately mobilize assistance to the thousands injured in the blast,” he continued.
Israel is extending a helping hand even though it is at war with Lebanon
Israel also provided humanitarian assistance to neighboring Lebanon on Tuesday following the devastating explosions in Beirut on Tuesday. Israel’s outstretched hand is also a remarkable gesture because the countries are technically at war with each other.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health told news agency AFP just before the turn of the day on Wednesday that at least 73 people had been killed and more than 3,700 injured in Tuesday’s explosion in Beirut.
According to Mohammed Fahm, the country’s interior minister, the explosion was probably caused by ammonium nitrate, which was stored in a storage building in the port.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he instructed the Israeli National Security Council to contact UN envoy to the Middle East, Nikolai Mladenov, to ensure how Israel can help Lebanon.
“We share the pain of the Lebanese”
Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said Israel has provided medical assistance, humanitarian assistance and immediate emergency assistance through international intermediaries.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin also said the country is offering a helping hand to Lebanon.
“We share the pain of the Lebanese and sincerely reach out to offer help during this difficult time,” Rivlin said.
Relations between Israel and Lebanon have been very tense over the past two weeks. Just over a week ago, there was a rumble on the Israeli-Lebanese border, and Israel said it had blocked an attempt by five members of Hezbollah to invade the country.
The attempted intrusion took place on Israel’s northern border, which the country shares with Lebanon. Hezbollah has denied the allegations as well as its involvement in border battles.
The last time Israel and Hezbollah were in an open war was in 2006, when they fought a 33-day war.
Macron’s Office: French emergency aid is already on its way
Other countries have also offered their assistance to Lebanon, including France, Germany and the United States.
French President Emmanuel Macron is said to have spoken on the phone on Tuesday with Lebanese President Michel Aoun. According to the French President’s Office, Macron expressed support for Lebanon. At the same time, Macron also told Aoun that emergency aid and resources are already on its way from France. However, the Office of the President did not specify what the latter meant.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also offered U.S. assistance to Lebanon.
– We are monitoring the situation and are ready to help the Lebanese people as they recover from this shocking tragedy, Pompeo said on Twitter.
In his message, Pompeo also conveyed the deepest sympathies for the incident.
Employees of the German embassy were injured in the explosion
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her government was appalled by the events in Beirut and the images spread from them. Her spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer told Twitter.
– Our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones. We wish the injured a speedy recovery. We offer our help to Lebanon, Merkel said, according to Demmer’s tweet.
Employees of the German embassy were also injured in the explosion in Beirut, the German Foreign Ministry said. The ministry does not specify how many of its employees were injured and how seriously.
The German embassy was located near the port of Beirut where the explosion took place. The building was also damaged in the accident. The ministry adds that it is not yet possible to exclude German citizens from the dead and injured.