Hezbollah accuses US of interfering in investigation

Hezbollah yesterday accused the US of interfering in Lebanon’s investigation into last year’s massive explosion at the Beirut port, with the aim of implicating the militant group and its allies. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadallah’s response to criticism from State Department spokesperson Ned Price came amid a developing crisis engulfing the probe.

The US official’s comments are a “new violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty” that expose “the extent of interference aimed at controlling and steering the investigation”, Fadallah said.

Hezbollah’s comments are the first to directly accuse Washington of interfering and dictating how the port probe should go. They signal an escalation of a campaign against the 46-year-old judge that rights groups say is aimed at discrediting the investigation.

Price late on Tuesday criticized Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah’s comments about lead investigator Judge Tarek Bitar. and said Washington supports Lebanon’s judicial independence. “Judges must be free from threats and intimidation, including [Hezbollah’s],” Price said. “We’ve long been clear that Hezbollah’s terrorism and illicit activities threaten Lebanon’s security, stability and sovereignty.”

The families of the port blast victims have rallied behind Bitar. Elie Hasrouti, whose father was killed in the port explosion, said dragging the case into a political showdown doesn’t provide justice for such a major crime. “We are asking for justice not just for us, but from those criminals ... who have lost their humanity and it has become impossible to continue to live with them,’’ Hasrouti said. “We will not drop this case. We will go to the end, and we are aware of the traps set along the way.”