On the fourth anniversary of the Tleil fuel tank explosion in Akkar, families of the victims gathered on Thursday in front of the Beirut Palace of Justice, demanding an expedited trial and accountability for those responsible.
Carrying photographs of their loved ones, the protesters called for justice, a full investigation, and punishment of the perpetrators. Attorney Zeina Al-Masry, speaking on behalf of the families, stressed that “achieving justice should not be tied to a specific timeframe. Even if we delay and the investigation has been ongoing for four years, we have come today to affirm our legitimate demand for justice.”
She noted that the last session before the Judicial Council took place on May 17, 2024, despite the country’s difficult security situation. “Fifteen months have passed since trial sessions resumed, yet no new hearings have been held. The families have submitted several requests that remain unaddressed, while one of the main defendants has already been tried and released,” she said.
Al-Masry reiterated the families’ demands for the resumption of Judicial Council sessions, stressing the need to secure their moral and human rights. “We will not tire, we will not remain silent, and we will not retreat until the perpetrators are punished and all rights are restored. Today, we recall our pain and anger, and we affirm that justice is not negotiable,” she concluded.
The Tleil explosion, which took place on August 15, 2021, killed at least 30 people and injured over 100 after a fuel tanker, seized by the Lebanese Army during the height of the country’s fuel crisis, ignited as locals gathered to collect gasoline. Among the victims were soldiers, Syrian refugees, and young men who were primary breadwinners for their families. The tragedy brought to light the desperation caused by Lebanon’s economic collapse and the chronic neglect of Akkar, one of the nation’s poorest regions.
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