Israel accuses Hezbollah of murdering several Lebanese citizens after they could have exposed the militia’s complicity in the deadly 2020 explosion at Beirut port.
Four victims may have revealed that the explosion was caused by Hezbollah’s storage of the highly explosive chemical ammonium nitrate, according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday.
The IDF claimed those eliminated were customs department officials and journalists who pointed out links between Hezbollah and the explosion.
The information could not initially be independently verified. Hezbollah has denied responsibility for the explosion in the past.
The explosion in Beirut Port in August 2020 claimed the lives of more than 200 people. 6,000 people were injured and entire neighborhoods destroyed.
The explosion was caused by hundreds of tons of the highly explosive chemical ammonium nitrate, which had been stored for years without safety precautions. The explosion was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in the world.
No one has so far been held responsible for the explosion.
The investigation has stalled, largely due to political influence, a judicial blockade and massive corruption.
Those responsible evaded investigation and judges were stymied.
Earlier this year, the government announced a new investigative attempt. It also helps that the war with Israel has weakened the politically powerful Hezbollah, as it has hindered progress in the investigation for years.