Court Suspends Arrest Warrants for Fenianos and Khalil in Port Blast Case

In Lebanon, a top court judge has suspended the arrest orders for two former ministers implicated in the 2020 Beirut port explosion, one of the largest non-nuclear blasts in history. Judge Sabbouh Suleiman of the Court of Cassation revoked the arrest warrants for Youssef Fenianos, ex-public works minister, and Ali Hassan Khalil, former finance minister and current MP. This decision was disclosed by judicial officials under anonymity.

The investigation into the catastrophic explosion was led by Judge Tarek Bitar, who, in 2021, issued arrest warrants against Fenianos and Khalil. Fenianos had previously sought Bitar’s dismissal, citing concerns over the handling of his case. Bitar had accused both Fenianos and Khalil, along with two other ex-senior officials, of intentional killing and negligence, which contributed to over 200 deaths in the blast.

The inquiry, however, has been hampered by political pressures and calls for Bitar’s removal, especially from politicians and security officials. This has led to mounting frustration among victims’ families and human rights organizations, as the investigation has been stalled for more than a year. Despite the issuance of arrest warrants for various cabinet ministers and heads of security agencies, political interference has prevented any detentions.

The U.S. Treasury, in September 2020, imposed sanctions on both Fenianos and Khalil, accusing them of corruption and supporting the Hezbollah militant group. Bitar had also pursued charges of homicide and criminal negligence against Khalil in relation to the port explosion.

The August 2020 explosion resulted in at least 218 deaths and over 6,000 injuries, according to an Associated Press report. It caused extensive damage to Beirut, leading to billions of dollars in losses.

More than three years after the explosion, the cause remains unknown, and no one has been held responsible. Investigations by rights groups and the media revealed that numerous state officials were aware of the substantial quantity of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive material used in fertilizers, stored unsafely at the port for years.