President Trump Remarks On The Massive Explosion That Rocked Beirut This Tuesday

Daily Mail: 'It was a bomb': Trump calls deadly Beirut explosions a 'terrible attack' and says US is ready to assist Lebanon after at least 78 are killed and more than 4,000 injured

* A series of massive explosions in the Lebanese capital's port area rocked the city on Tuesday evening local time, killing at least 78 people and injuring 4,000
* Trump described the blast as a 'terrible attack' and said he had been advised by 'great generals' that the explosion was caused by 'a bomb of some kind'
* So far, no evidence has been released to the public to indicate that the explosions were the result of an attack
* The Lebanese government says it's still investigating the source of the explosion but believe it was caused by a stash of ammonium nitrate catching fire
* Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab called the explosion a 'catastrophe' and vowed that those responsible 'will pay for what happened'

President Donald Trump described a series of deadly explosions in Beirut as a ‘terrible attack’ Tuesday, despite no evidence currently suggesting the blasts were intentional.

A series of massive explosions in the Lebanese capital's port area rocked the city on Tuesday evening local time, killing at least 78 people and injuring more than 4,000 others.

'The United States stands ready to assist Lebanon,’ Trump said of the devastating scenes during a White House briefing. ‘We will be there to help. It looks like a terrible attack.’

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More News On President Trump Remarking On The Massive Explosion That Rocked Beirut This Tuesday

Trump says Beirut explosion seems to be 'bomb of some kind,' cites generals -- Reuters
Donald Trump claims massive explosion in Beirut was an 'attack' despite local authorities saying otherwise -- ABC News Online
'It was a bomb': Trump says deadly Beirut explosion was 'terrible attack' – despite no evidence it was deliberate -- The Independent
‘A bomb of some kind’? Trump says US military officials think deadly Beirut blast was an ATTACK -- RT

U.S. Lifts Hold On Lebanon Security Aid

Reuters: Trump administration lifts hold on Lebanon security aid: source

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has lifted a “hold” on security aid for Lebanon, a congressional aide said on Monday, more than a month after it began withholding the money.

As first reported by Reuters, the U.S. State Department told Congress on Oct. 31 that the White House budget office and National Security Council had decided to withhold $105 million in foreign military assistance, without providing any explanation of why it was blocked.

The congressional aide said on Monday the administration had still provided no explanation for the decision to withhold the money, which had been approved by Congress and the State Department.

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WNU Editor: I am not sure that this is a good decision. The chaos and mayhem in Lebanon continues .... Syrian Pound at New Low as Crisis Roils Neighboring Lebanon (Naharnet).

More News On The U.S. Lifting Its Hold On Lebanon Security Aid

Trump administration quietly releases Lebanon military aid -- AP
US ends freeze on $100 million in Lebanon aid -- AFP
Trump administration releases $105M in military aid for Lebanon after months-long delay -- The Hill

U.S. Withholding $105 Million In Security Aid For Lebanon

A Lebanese soldier watches anti-government protests in Sidon from atop a military vehicle. Reuters

Reuters: Exclusive: U.S. withholding $105 million in security aid for Lebanon - sources

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is withholding $105 million in security aid for Lebanon, two U.S. officials said on Thursday, two days after the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.

The State Department told Congress on Thursday that the White House budget office and National Security Council had decided to withhold the foreign military assistance, the two officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The officials did not say why the aid was blocked. One of the sources said the State Department did not give Congress a reason for the decision.

The State Department declined to comment.

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Update #1: Trump administration withholding $105M in aid for Lebanon (The Hill)
Update #2: US withholds $105 million in security aid for Lebanon (The National)

WNU Editor: Apparently Israel requested this cut-off .... After Israeli plea, US cutting $105 million in military aid to Lebanon — report (Times of Israel). The U.K. is still providing aid .... UK announces up to €22 million in support of Lebanon's army as US withholds funds (Euronews/Reuters).

U.S. Delivers Arms To Lebanese Army

Workers unload artillery, part of a military donation from the U.S. government to the Lebanese army, during a ceremony at Beirut's port February 8, 2015.

Credit: REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

Reuters: U.S. delivers arms to Lebanon, says fighting 'same enemy'

(Reuters) - The United States delivered more than $25 million worth of military aid including heavy artillery to the Lebanese army on Sunday to help it fight jihadist groups which have repeatedly battled with security forces near the Syrian border.

WNU Editor: Another sign that everyone is expecting the wars and conflicts in the region to escalate.

More News On The U.S. Delivering Arms To The Lebanese Army

US shipload of weapons and ammunition arrives in Lebanon -- AP
Lebanese Army receives US weapon shipment -- Daily Star
Lebanon Receives New Shipment of U.S. Arms -- Naharnet
Lebanon gets U.S. arms, vehicles to fight militants -- Al Arabiya/AFP

America Pulls Diplomatic Staff Out Of Lebanon And Turkey And Issues Travel Warnings

A general view of the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. (file photo)

U.S. Orders Nonessential Diplomats to Leave Lebanon -- New York Times

The State Department, apparently concerned about possible strikes on American targets by Syrian government allies, on Friday ordered nonessential diplomats at the United States Embassy in Beirut and their families to leave Lebanon.

The department also said nonessential diplomats and their families could leave the American Consulate in Adana, in southern Turkey near the Syrian border, but did not issue an order.

Both diplomatic posts remain open, though with fewer staff members and more limited operations. On Friday, the department also issued travel warnings urging Americans to avoid southeastern Turkey and Lebanon.

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More News On America Pulling Diplomatic Staff Out Of Lebanon And Turkey And Issuing Travel Warnings

Syria crisis: US orders non-emergency personnel out of Lebanon -- BBC
U.S. tightens embassy security in Lebanon and Turkey, warns Americans -- First Post/Reuters
US orders diplomats out of Lebanon amid debate on Syria -- FOX News/AP
U.S. orders partial evacuation of embassy in Beirut as tensions rise over Syria strike -- Washington Post
US evacuates non-essential staff from Beirut mission -- AFP
US Removes Diplomats from Lebanon, Turkey Amid Threats -- RIA Novosti
Americans Warned About Travel to Lebanon, Turkey -- Voice of America
U.S. issues travel warnings for Lebanon and Turkey -- USA Today
Will Hezbollah strike back if the US attacks Syria? -- Global Post

U.S. To Supply Lebanon's Military With Equipment And Weaponry

Israeli Soldiers Clearing Trees On The Israeli/Lebanese Border

'US To Continue Supplying Military Assistance To Lebanon' -- Jerusalem Post

Report says an estimated $100m. worth of equipment and weaponry has been approved, after funds were frozen by US in the wake of fatal border clashes with Israel.

The US will continue to supply the Lebanese Armed Forces with equipment and weapons estimated to be worth approximately $100 million, a Lebanese newspaper reported on Saturday.

Al-Nahar quoted diplomatic sources as saying that Washington had urged both Israel and Lebanon to continue showing restraint towards each other and to refrain from threats and other provocative behavior.

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My Comment: I hope that I am wrong, but I believe that this is a mistake. U.S. hopes for restraining Lebanon from an arm conflict ignores the grim reality that many in the Lebanese military are sympathetic to Hezbollah, and are more than willing to provoke a fight against Israel.

Is America Deserting Its Allies In Lebanon?

The explosion that killed former Lebanese Premier Rafiq Hariri in Beirut, 2005.
(Photo from Slate)

Is This The Price Of America's New Friendship With Syria? -- The Independent

World Focus: Pro-Damascus generals held for the assassination that sparked turmoil in Lebanon walk free after four years

They're out. The four top men blamed for the murder of the Lebanese ex-prime minister Rafiq Hariri in the Saint Valentine's Day massacre four years ago have been freed from their drab prison at Roumieh north of Beirut, amid a flurry of gunfire and fireworks. In Damascus – their home from home if you believe what Mr Hariri's men tell you – they must be drinking champagne.

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My Comment: Not a fan of Robert Fisk, but he makes some valid points in this commentary. Read it all.