Beirut port explosion case nears a turning point who are the key defendants?

The investigation into the Beirut Port explosion is entering one of its most decisive stages, more than six years after the blast.

Public Prosecutor Judge Mohammad Saab has completed, signed, and sealed the Public Prosecution’s legal opinion. It was handed today, together with the case documents, to investigative judge Tarek Bitar, paving the way for the issuance of the indictment.

Around 70 defendants have been named throughout the investigation, including politicians, security and military officials, judges, and officials from the port and customs authorities.

The next stage will determine who will be referred to trial in one of Lebanon’s most consequential cases, as victims’ families and the wider public continue to wait for accountability and a clear determination of responsibility.