Beirut: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday called on the country's judiciary to issue a long-awaited indictment in investigations into the 2020 Beirut port explosion, saying 'justice can no longer be delayed.'

According to Anadolu Agency, in a presidency statement marking the sixth anniversary of the disaster, Aoun said the explosion was 'not merely a moment of mourning, but a permanent reminder of a duty that does not expire: the duty of truth, justice and accountability.' He emphasized that the issuance of the indictment by the judicial investigator has become a necessity that can no longer tolerate further delay.

Aoun stressed the importance of justice not as an act of revenge but as a means to establish the full truth and hold accountable everyone who was negligent or caused the catastrophe, irrespective of their position or status. He insisted that justice is indivisible and the law applies equally to all individuals.

The president called on the Lebanese judiciary to demonstrate its independence and ability to deliver justice for the victims, describing the indictment as 'a right owed by the martyrs to the living' and to the families who have waited years for answers.

The anticipated indictment is expected to be issued by lead investigator Judge Tarek Bitar and will formally determine criminal responsibility and bring charges against suspects before referring the case to Lebanon's Judicial Council for trial. However, the investigation has faced years of political and judicial obstacles, and no indictment has yet been issued.

On August 4, 2020, a massive explosion at the Port of Beirut killed more than 220 people and injured around 7,000 others, causing widespread destruction across the Lebanese capital. Official estimates suggest the blast originated in Warehouse 12, where about 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate confiscated from a cargo ship had been stored since 2014.