Aug. 4 Beirut blast: Morning commemorations held at port and fire station | LIVE

Tribute to victims

Lebanese flags fly at half-mast outside the entrance to the Baabda Presidential Palace on Aug. 4, 2026. (Credit: Lebanese Presidency)

The Baabda Presidential Palace released a photograph showing Lebanese flags flying at half-mast outside the presidential palace in tribute to the victims of the Beirut port blast.

Apostolic nuncio in Lebanon stresses Holy See’s support for victims’ families

Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Paolo Borgia stressed the Holy See’s “closeness” in supporting the families of the victims, in remarks made during a ceremony held this morning at Beirut port.

“We must have hope and strongly demand that the truth be brought to light over this tragedy, because the families and all Lebanese people have the right to know the truth,” he said.

Geagea: 'Our main consolation is the promise that an indictment will be issued in the coming months'

On the sixth anniversary of the Beirut port explosion, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea offered his condolences to the victims’ families.

“Our main consolation this year is the promise from the highest judicial authorities that an indictment will be issued in the coming months, after which trials can begin and those responsible will be punished as they should be,” he said.

“Even 60 years after the port explosion, this tragedy will remain etched in our collective consciousness,” the Lebanese Forces leader added.

US Embassy: Pursuit of truth over Aug. 4 blast 'essential to building a stronger Lebanon'

The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon paid tribute to the victims of the Beirut port blast, expressing its “solidarity with their families and communities who continue to fight for the truth to come to light and for justice to be served.”

“Their pursuit is essential to building a stronger, more stable and more prosperous Lebanon,” the embassy said.

“Six years ago, the Beirut port explosion killed more than 200 people, injured thousands and forever changed the face of the city,” the U.S. Embassy said.

Annual commemoration of the Aug. 4 tragedy at 6 p.m. outside Beirut port

A commemoration will be held at 6 p.m. today outside Beirut port, at the request of the victims’ families.

The annual sit-in will be preceded by two gatherings at 4 p.m., one at the Beirut Fire Brigade station and another at Martyrs’ Square. The two gatherings will converge at 6 p.m. outside the port, where a ceremony will be held.

Hajjar expresses solidarity with victims’ families

Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar paid tribute to the “martyrs” of the port explosions, expressing his “solidarity with their families, the wounded and all those affected.”

“We reaffirm our full cooperation with the judiciary to uncover the truth and deliver justice,” he said.

Brig. Gen. Sami Nassif, representing the interior minister, laid flowers at the memorials dedicated to the Beirut firefighters killed in the blast and to the victims from General Security.

Saddi calls for truth on port tragedy

“Another year has passed since the Aug. 4 crime, and truth and justice remain absent, while the pain has not eased,” Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi wrote on X.

He called for the Beirut port explosions to be fully investigated, saying that “there can be no genuine restoration of trust in the state without justice.”

Rajji: 'Beirut awaits justice without compromise'

Foreign Minister Joe Rajji expressed his “solidarity with the wounded and the families of the victims who are still waiting for justice,” six years after the Aug. 4 tragedy.

“We remain faithful to the blood of the martyrs until the full truth is revealed. What happened was not the result of chance, but a crime preceded by negligence and conspiracy, and followed by delays and foot-dragging that continue to prevent the truth from coming to light,” Rajji wrote on X.

“Beirut awaits justice without compromise and a truth that will not be held hostage to calculations, fear, concealment and inaction,” he added.

Morning commemorations held at port and Beirut Fire Brigade station

Relatives of Aug. 4 victims held a sit-in at 10 a.m. inside Beirut port, in the presence of ambassadors from countries that lost nationals in the twin blasts, Justice Minister Adel Nassar and Beirut Bar Association President Imad Martinos.

The ambassadors laid wreaths at a memorial plaque erected by the Lebanese Army at the port bearing the names of those killed in the tragedy.

Another sit-in was held at the Beirut Fire Brigade station, a short distance from the port, in the presence of victims’ families.

Welcome to our live coverage

Welcome to our live coverage of the sixth anniversary of the Aug. 4, 2020 explosions at Beirut port.

We will follow the commemorations and demonstrations planned throughout the day, as well as reactions to developments in the investigation.