Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Tuesday, May 13, 2025
    961
    Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok
    • Breaking News
    • Guides
    • Food & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Join the Team
    • Whatsapp
      • 961
      • 961 News
    • AUB Outdoors ☀️
    Advertise with Us Get the App
    961
    Home»News»Lebanon News
    The New York Times
    2 Mins Read

    A Lebanese Minister Reportedly Helped Facilitate The Smuggling Of Ammonium Nitrate To Syria

    By Souad LazkaniFebruary 19, 2021Updated:April 28, 2021
    Facebook WhatsApp Copy Link

    On Thursday evening, during MTV’s show, It’s About Time, Lebanese political commentator and journalist Simon Abou Fadel revealed information from the investigation showing that a Lebanese minister intervened to help facilitate the smuggling of ammonium nitrate to Syria.

    This revelation came after former minister Ghassan Atallah, who is a member of the Free Patriotic Movement, debunked the theory that the ammonium nitrate was taken from the port in portions.

    Instead, whatever was missing from the total amount of ammonium nitrate was assumingly taken as soon as the shipment arrived in the port of Beirut.

    The New York Times

    While that isn’t proven 100%, it has the potential to be true.

    According to Abou Fadel, when authorities at the Syrian border stopped trucks loaded with ammonium nitrate from entering Syria, “one of the ministers called and made a ‘wasta’ to relinquish them,” adding, “This is what is shown in the investigation.”

    Despite host Marcel Ghanem’s efforts to pressure Abou Fadel to specify who the minister was, Abou Fadel declined. “With bloodshed this expansive, I can’t say who it is,” he said.

    However, he dropped a hint saying that he is someone who is “current and active” in the scene, adding that it was one of the people Judge Fadi Sawan has mentioned.

    This welcomes the assumption that it could have been any of the ministers who Judge Sawan indicted or any suspect under his radar.

    This also adds to the link made between Syrian businessmen close to the Syrian regime and the ammonium nitrate shipment and backs up theories that the same dangerous material that exploded in Beirut was being used on Syrian civilians as well.

    Ammonium Nitrate Beirut Explosion Smuggling Syria
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email

    For You

    uae travel ban lebanon 961

    UAE Is Officially Removing The Travel Ban On Lebanon

    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

    Charles Hajj 961

    Who Is Charles Hajj, Lebanon’s New Minister of Telecommunications

    Nora Bayrakdarian 961

    Who is Nora Bayrakdarian, Lebanon’s New Minister of Youth and Sports

    saint levant aub outdoors 2025 961

    Saint Levant Is Officially Headlining AUB Outdoors 2025!

    visa whish money partnership

    Visa and Whish Money Just Partnered To Push Digital Payments in Lebanon and Abroad

    May 6, 2025

    20 Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Had Lebanese Roots

    April 22, 2019
    nada koussa miss world miss lebanon 961

    Nada Koussa Just Left To Represent Lebanon At Miss World

    May 7, 2025

    Lebanon’s Shawarma Is Going Viral in The Philippines

    April 21, 2019
    dew apparel nada koussa miss lebanon 961

    Miss Lebanon Nada Koussa Just Launched A Sportswear Brand

    May 3, 2025
    arabic words

    30 Beautiful Arabic Words You Probably Want To Learn

    April 22, 2020
    Lebanese boutiques

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

    June 9, 2024
    Lebanon Making Videos 961

    You Can Now Get Paid To Go Around Lebanon Making Videos

    January 23, 2025

    20 Typical Lebanese Slang Expressions

    April 21, 2020
    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.Okay