The cause remained unclear hours later. But officials in the Lebanese capital said 2,750 tons of highly explosive ammonium nitrate had been stored in a depot at the center of the explosion.
Author: BEN HUBBARD
Deadly Explosions Shatter Beirut, Lebanon
Dozens are dead and thousands hurt. The cause is unclear but the government said “highly explosive materials” had been stored at the blast scene in the Lebanese capital.
A Saudi Spy Chief Hid Abroad. With Appeals and Threats, M.B.S. Tried to Bring Him Back
To try to force a former Saudi intelligence officer to return to the kingdom, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked for his help, targeted his family and sought to have him arrested abroad.
Saudi Arabia Drastically Limits Hajj Pilgrimage to Prevent Viral Spread
Saudi Arabia said only “very limited numbers” of pilgrims could perform the hajj this year, with only Saudis and foreign nationals already in the kingdom allowed to take part.
Syria’s Economy Collapses Even as Civil War Winds to a Close
President Bashar al-Assad faces threats he cannot bomb into submission, as protests erupt over living standards and a rift opens among the ruling elite.
Khashoggi’s Son Says Family Pardons His Father’s Killers
The pardon effectively ends the prospect that any of the men who killed Jamal Khashoggi will be executed.
As Saudi Official Hid Abroad, His Family Became a Target at Home
Saad Aljabri knows “where the bodies are buried.” Now Saudi authorities are arresting his relatives to force him to return to the kingdom, his son says.
Lebanon’s Economic Crisis Explodes, Threatening Decades of Prosperity
Bad planning, corruption and the sudden shock of a pandemic have caused the Lebanese currency to crash and consumer prices to jump. Hunger looms.
Saudi Arabia’s ‘Um Haroun’ Ignites Arab Debate on Jews and Israel
Fans have praised a hit TV series for promoting religious diversity. Critics say it encourages “normalization” with Israel and betrays the Palestinian cause.
Germany Takes Rare Step in Putting Syrian Officers on Trial in Torture Case
Activists have described the case, which involves charges of crimes against humanity in the early stages of the Syrian civil war, as a first, limited step toward justice.