
Beirut Port explosion case update: More officials defy judge as probe nears final phase
In the latest developments in the Beirut Port explosion case, former Public Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat has refused to sign a summons to appear before Judicial Investigator Judge Tarek Bitar next Monday as a defendant.
According to the head of the clerk's office at the Court of Cassation's Public Prosecution, Oueidat stated that he does not recognize the authority or jurisdiction of the judicial investigator, whose powers he considers suspended—meaning Oueidat will not attend Monday's session.
Oueidat's response to Bitar was delivered in writing and was sharply worded.
In the same letter, Oueidat also criticized Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation Judge Jamal Al-Hajjar, who served him with the summons, accusing him of implementing decisions marred by serious legal errors and violations. He urged Al-Hajjar to correct what he described as a flawed course of action.
With this move, Oueidat has joined the list of political figures who have refused to appear before Judge Bitar—most notably former Minister Ghazi Zaiter, who is also expected to skip his scheduled session on Friday.
Former ministers Ali Hassan Khalil and Youssef Fenianos have also defied summonses, and Bitar has issued arrest warrants in absentia for both.
By contrast, a longer list of officials has complied with Bitar's investigation, including former Prime Minister Hassan Diab, former Minister Nohad Machnouk, Major Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, Major Gen. Tony Saliba, Judges Jad Maalouf, Carla Chawah, and Ghassan Khoury, General Jean Kahwaji, and former head of the Higher Customs Council Asaad al-Tufayli.
After completing the interrogation phase, Bitar is still awaiting responses to several letters rogatory he sent to foreign countries, as well as testimony from additional witnesses or defendants.
He will then refer the investigation file to the Court of Cassation's Public Prosecution for a non-binding opinion.
According to information obtained by LBCI, the file is expected to be referred to Judge Al-Hajjar in September, which likely means Bitar will issue his indictment decision before the end of 2025.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


LBCI
32 minutes ago
- LBCI
Gaza alarm drives France's Macron to push for Palestine recognition
President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France would become the first Western member of the United Nations Security Council to recognise a Palestinian state in September has caused diplomatic ructions from the Middle East through Europe to Washington. When Macron visited the Egyptian town of Al-Arish on the border with Gaza in April, he was struck by the mounting humanitarian crisis and made clear on his return home that Paris would soon opt for recognition. Working with Saudi Arabia, Macron came up with a plan to have France, plus G7 allies Britain and Canada, recognise Palestinian statehood, while pushing Arab states to adopt a softer stance towards Israel through a United Nations conference. But despite weeks of talks, he failed to get others on board. Three diplomats said London did not want to face the wrath of the United States, and Ottawa took a similar stance, leaving Macron to go it alone. "It became increasingly apparent that we could not wait to get partners on board," said a French diplomat, adding that France will work to get more states on board ahead of the conference on a two-state solution in September. Reuters


LBCI
32 minutes ago
- LBCI
Israeli airstrike in South Lebanon kills one: Health Ministry
An Israeli airstrike targeting a vehicle on the Touairi–Srifa road in the Tyre district killed one person, Lebanon's Health Ministry announced on Saturday.


LBCI
32 minutes ago
- LBCI
Israeli drone carrying grenade crashes in Meiss El Jabal, says Lebanese Army
The Lebanese Army announced that an Israeli drone carrying a hand grenade crashed in the outskirts of Meiss El Jabal in the Marjaayoun district on Saturday, amid ongoing Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty. In a statement, the Army Command – Directorate of Orientation said the incident occurred on July 26, 2025, and was part of Israel's continued acts of aggression. An army patrol secured the area, detonated the grenade, and transferred the drone to a specialised unit for inspection and further action.