A view of the Port of Tripoli on Aug. 6, 2020. (Credit: Reuters)
BEIRUT — Following a cabinet session on Tuesday, Information Minister Ziad Makary said that the Military Court will investigate the sinking of a boat carrying more than 60 people attempting to illegally leave Lebanon on Saturday night. Makary added that the army chief has put himself under investigation in relation to the incident, which has left at least six people dead and more than 30 missing.
Here’s what we know:
• “The army is assigned to conduct a transparent investigation into the boat accident, under the supervision of the specialized judiciary,” Makary said.
• Cabinet convened in an extraordinary session this morning at the Presidential Palace in Baabda to discuss the sinking of the vessel. In addition, the government ministers discussed the security situation across Lebanon.
• Army chief Joseph Aoun and the army’s director of intelligence Brig. Gen. Tony Kahwaji, as well as its navy commander Col. Haitham Dnaoui, were summoned to the cabinet session to report on the preliminary investigation into the shipwreck, the NNA reported.
• Makary added that a ministerial committee will be assigned to prepare a draft law aimed at establishing a council for the development of the north.
• At least six people died in the shipwreck on Saturday, while more than 30 of those who were aboard the boat remain missing. A search for the remaining passengers continues by land, air and sea. On Tuesday, Tripoli port manager Ahmad Temer said that “Greek frigates participated today in the search process from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m.”
• On Sunday, the army said the vessel sank after leaving Qalamoun due to “high waves and the overload of the boat.” A survivor disputed this claim, saying that the boat sank after being chased by the army. “The patrol boat hit our boat twice,” he told AFP at the Port of Tripoli, before families of survivors asked him to be quiet.
• Responding to allegations against the army Mikati said during the cabinet session that he refuses “to throw accusations randomly, and we will follow up on the issue of the sinking boat in accordance with the judicial and security principles.”