On the fifth anniversary of the devastating Beirut Port explosion, which killed over 200 people and injured thousands, officials and institutions have renewed their calls for justice and remembrance, while tributes were held across the country.
Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar visited the Beirut Fire Brigade headquarters, where he laid a wreath at a newly inaugurated memorial honoring the rescue workers who perished in the disaster.
“This isn’t only about compensation, but about justice and truth,” the minister said during the ceremony. “Your pain is ours, and we are all waiting for the truth to emerge.”
Hajjar affirmed that the state would respect any forthcoming judicial decisions and pledged his ministry’s full cooperation with the Ministry of Justice to shed light on what he described as a “national crime.” “No state can exist unless the sword of justice weighs equally on all,” he stressed.
“We remember our martyrs, both military and civilian, and we remain committed to protecting the nation, no matter the pain,” the General Directorate of State Security stated in a commemorative message.
International voices echoed the same demands.
United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert expressed solidarity with those affected by the explosion, “many of whom continue to bravely pursue justice.”
Following a meeting last week with families of several victims, Hennis-Plasschaert stressed that progress in judicial proceedings is urgently needed.
“Five years on, tragedy and pain are compounded by the glaring absence of justice. Survivors and victims, and their families, deserve full accountability. And they deserve it now," she said.
While welcoming renewed momentum in the investigation and positive steps toward strengthening state institutions, Hennis-Plasschaert emphasized the Lebanese government’s responsibility to accelerate judicial action. She also congratulated the Lebanese Parliament on passing the Judicial Independence Law, describing it as a key step toward restoring public trust in state institutions.
“Five years on, tragedy and pain are compounded by the glaring absence of justice. Survivors and victims, and their families, deserve full accountability. And, they deserve it now,” says SCL @jeaninehennis on #4August #BeirutBlast anniversary.
— UNSCOL (@UNSCOL) August 4, 2025
More ⬇️https://t.co/pzwGD85fav pic.twitter.com/KLeMrEEUck
The US Embassy in Lebanon also issued a statement on X, saying:
"We stand with the people of Lebanon in their call for accountability. Lebanon deserves an independent and impartial judicial system that delivers justice for the victims, not protections for the elites. The United States remains committed to a sovereign, stable, and prosperous Lebanon shaped by its people – not outside forces."
Today marks five years since the tragic Beirut port explosion that claimed over 200 lives and displaced thousands. We stand with the people of Lebanon in their call for accountability. Lebanon deserves an independent and impartial judicial system that delivers justice for the… pic.twitter.com/ZZjmwsylE1
— U.S. Embassy Beirut (@usembassybeirut) August 4, 2025
The British Embassy in Beirut lowered its flag to half-mast on Monday in commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the Beirut Port explosion.
In a statement, the embassy said the gesture was made “in remembrance of the Beirut Port tragedy,” adding that “the families of the victims deserve truth, justice, and accountability.”
The French Embassy in Lebanon, for its part, praised “the efforts made to uncover the full truth and deliver justice to the victims and all those affected by this tragedy.”
In a statement on X, the French Embassy stated: “As the Lebanese authorities have emphasized, ending impunity is essential for Lebanon’s recovery, because without justice, there can be no rule of law.”
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International emphasized on Monday that “the path to justice remains fraught with political and judicial challenges,” despite the resumption of the investigation.
Among Lebanese officials, MP Nadim Gemayel criticized the stalled investigation and judicial interference.
“Five years of misleading the investigation, besieging the judiciary, and threatening judges. Today, after the state has been partially freed from the grip of the 'mini-state,' it is time to issue the indictment. The security agencies must assume their responsibilities,” he wrote on X.
“Half-measures no longer work. It’s either justice and a functioning state, or the death of any hope for one.”
MP Raji El Saad wrote on X: “The truth will eventually come out, and justice will be served, even if it takes time.”
الحقيقة ستظهر والعدالة ستتحقق ولو بعد حين#انفجار_مرفأ_بيروت pic.twitter.com/b4YDvESUQE
— Ragy el Saad (@Ragyelsaad) August 4, 2025
As part of the national day of mourning, the Lebanese flag was lowered to half-mast at the Presidential Palace in Baabda in accordance with an official mourning declaration.
Operations at the Port of Beirut are set to come to a standstill at 6:00 PM on Monday, August 4, as part of a nationwide tribute marking five years since the deadly explosion. A moment of silence will be observed in memory of the victims.
At that symbolic hour, ships will sound their horns and cranes will be raised in a solemn gesture of remembrance, a silent tribute reflecting the enduring pain of a nation still seeking justice.
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