Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Thursday, July 17, 2025
    961
    Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok
    • Breaking News
    • Guides
    • Food & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Join the Team
    • Whatsapp
      • 961
      • 961 News
    Advertise with Us Get the App
    961
    Home»News»Lebanon News
    Mahmoud Al-Asmar/AA
    2 Mins Read

    Higher Defense Council Contradicts Aoun’s Statements Over The Ammonium Nitrate

    By Rim ZreinJanuary 20, 2021Updated:February 8, 2021
    Facebook WhatsApp Copy Link

    During a televised interview with Al-Jadeed, the Secretary-General of the Higher Defense Council, Major General Mahmoud Al-Asmar, gave away that he had received a report from State Security on July 20th informing him of the presence of ammonium nitrate in the port.

    He further stated that, before August 4th, the issue of the ammonium nitrate was not discussed on the agenda of the Supreme Defense Council.

    “I only received a report from the State Security on July 20th,” Al-Asmar emphasized during the interview.

    The New York Times

    The Lebanese presidency previously stated that the first time the President was informed of the presence of quantities of ammonium nitrate in the warehouse in Beirut was through a report by the General Directorate of State Security he received on July 21st.

    “Upon viewing it, President Aoun asked his security and military advisor to follow up on the content of the report with the Secretary-General of the Supreme Defense Council, which includes all the security apparatuses and the relevant ministries,” the presidency’s media office stated.

    مكتب الاعلام في رئاسة الجمهورية: الرئيس عون طلب من مستشاره الأمني متابعة تقرير أمن الدولة حول وجود نيترات الأمونيوم في المستودع رقم 12 مع أمين عام المجلس الأعلى للدفاع الذي ابلغه انه أرسل كتابا بالأمر الى وزارة الاشغال تسلّمته يوم الأثنين في 3 آب 2020

    — Lebanese Presidency (@LBpresidency) December 12, 2020

    However, Al-Asmar’s statement contradicts the narrative of President Michel Aoun who said he had fulfilled his duties by referring the report to the Higher Defense Council. 

    According to Al-Asmar, it is up to the Presidential Palace to instruct the Higher Defense Council to hold a session addressing the issue of the ammonium nitrate.

    That was never done prior to August 4th, the day of the biggest non-nuclear explosions devastated large parts of Beirut and killed over 200 innocent civilians.

    Hussein Malla/AP

    Two opposing statements exist here: Al-Asmar claims he has no jurisdiction, while Aoun claims that he assigned the matter to the Higher Defense Council.

    https://twitter.com/Ram7Leb/status/1351091154960396289

    Meanwhile, the only major update in the blast investigation goes back to December 10th and revolves around lead investigator Judge Fadi Sawan charging caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab and three former ministers with negligence.

    The indictment was fiercely refuted by Lebanese officials, which ended putting a halt to the investigation until recently when Lebanon’s Court of Cassation issued an order allowing Judge Sawan to proceed with the investigation.

    However, experts unrelated to the government recently revealed that the company that had bought the ammonium nitrate is linked to two Syrian businessmen under US sanctions for ties to Syrian President Bashar Assad.

    Ammonium Nitrate Beirut Blast Probe Beirut Explosion Hassan Diab Lebanon Michel Aoun
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email

    For You

    lebanon jounieh cyprus by ferry 961

    You’ll Soon Be Able To Travel Between Lebanon & Cyprus By Ferry

    uae travel ban lebanon 961

    UAE Is Officially Removing The Travel Ban On Lebanon

    Lebanese talking-stage

    15 Things Your Lebanese Talking-Stage Will Tell You, And What It Actually Means

    Joe Issa El-Khoury 961

    Who is Joe Issa El-Khoury, Lebanon’s New Minister of Industry

    Adel Nassar 961

    Who is Adel Nassar, Lebanon’s New Minister of Justice

    Nizar Hani 961

    Who is Nizar Hani, Lebanon’s New Minister of Agriculture

    shark tank Lebanon

    Shark Tank Is Officially Coming To Lebanon – Here’s How You Can Get A Chance To Pitch Your Idea

    lebanon jounieh cyprus by ferry 961

    You’ll Soon Be Able To Travel Between Lebanon & Cyprus By Ferry

    June 8, 2025

    20 Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Had Lebanese Roots

    April 22, 2019
    whish pay lebanon 961

    You Can Now Use Whish Pay At Shopify Stores

    June 13, 2025

    Lebanon’s Shawarma Is Going Viral in The Philippines

    April 21, 2019

    How Mia Khalifa Became One Of The Most Outspoken Advocates For Lebanon

    August 13, 2020
    Lebanese boutiques

    25 Boutiques In Lebanon To Find Your Dream Evening Dress This Wedding Season

    June 9, 2024

    20 Typical Lebanese Slang Expressions

    April 21, 2020
    caracalla one thousand and one nights

    Caracalla Just Added More Dates For “One Thousand and One Nights” & You Def Don’t Want To Miss It!

    July 5, 2025
    Low-Cost Lebanese Airline 961

    We Might Finally Be Getting A Low-Cost Lebanese Airline – Here’s What We Know

    June 18, 2025
    961 Logo
    Facebook WhatsApp TikTok Instagram

    Popular Topics

    • Guides
    • Eat & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Lebanon News
    • Diaspora
    • Explained

    961

    • About
    • WhatsApp Channel
    • News WhatsApp Channel
    • Corrections Policy
    • Ownership & Funding

    Services

    • Advertise
    • Careers
    • App Waitlist
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter
    961™ | All Rights Reserved ©2025
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.