U.S. expresses support for newly appointed Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Mikati and calls for holding those responsible for the Beirut port explosion accountable

BEIRUT — Following the appointment of Najib Mikati as the new Prime Minister-designate of Lebanon by Lebanese Parliament, the Biden Administration invited Mikati to urgently form a government to address the unprecedented crisis afflicting Lebanon.

The formation of the government was a prerequisite for attracting Western, especially French, support to Lebanon and its people. Mikati’s assignment comes after a year of failed attempts by former Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri to form a government. Hariri was tasked with forming a government following the resignation of Hassan Diab’s government in the wake of the Beirut port explosion on 4 August, which killed hundreds of people and injured thousands.

Al-Hariri held a press conference after chairing a meeting of the Future Bloc, declaring that the goal of the conference was to reach the truth about the port explosion.

He added that he himself is a son of a martyr, referring to his father, former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, who was assassinated 16 years ago.

“In order to reach the truth about the port bombing, I suggest suspending all constitutional and legal articles that give immunity to trials for the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, ministers, MPs, judges, and even employees and lawyers,” al-Hariri concluded.

"Why did #Hezbollah and its allies back this particular outcome? The answer is obvious by now: they prefer controlling a failed state over allowing reforms that chip away at the power they gained in the 2018 parliamentary election." https://t.co/AcpuwbHRYB

— Alberto Miguel Fernandez (@AlbertoMiguelF5) July 28, 2021