The investigation into the 2020 Beirut port explosion has reached a critical judicial stage, with Lebanon's top public prosecutor completing a legal submission that could pave the way for investigating Judge Tarek Bitar to issue an indictment within days.

Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation Judge Mohammad Saab has completed the Public Prosecution’s submission on the merits of the case, according to Nidaa Al-Watan. It is expected to be handed to Bitar on Tuesday, allowing him to finalize his draft indictment.

Bitar has already prepared a draft indictment after completing the investigation, closing the case and referring it to the Public Prosecution, according to information obtained by the newspaper.

The investigating judge is expected to spend only a few days refining the draft in light of the Public Prosecution’s submission before issuing the indictment, the report said.

Judicial sources following the investigation praised what they described as Bitar’s “excellent work,” saying his approach had been met with a notable degree of alignment and consistency from the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation.

Legal sources familiar with the case said political forces in Lebanon and abroad had not expected an investigation of such magnitude to maintain a clear course that could ultimately establish what happened and identify those accused of involvement, negligence or complicity in the blast.

Indictment expected to examine broader system

The Public Prosecution’s submission is reportedly far more extensive than a conventional legal opinion.

According to information obtained by Nidaa Al-Watan, it sets out a comprehensive account of the established facts that led to the explosion, analyzes those facts and draws conclusions from the investigation. It also addresses one of the central questions surrounding the case: whether the blast was the result of a deliberate act.

The submission goes beyond the immediate causes and logistical circumstances of the Aug. 4 explosion.

It also examines Lebanon’s broader “system of governance,” including the country’s administrative and security structures and the role they played in the chain of events that ultimately led to the disaster.

That approach suggests the eventual indictment could extend beyond simply listing the names of those charged. It may also address systemic failures, poor administration and the way officials handled the responsibilities entrusted to them.

The scope of responsibility could therefore reach anyone who occupied a position of authority during the relevant period, from presidents and ministers to senior military, administrative and judicial officials and lower-ranking employees.

Focus on individual responsibility

In assessing individual responsibility, sources expect Saab to have applied general and consistent criteria to the case, including to the senior officials who have been charged.

The Public Prosecution’s submission reportedly sets out a clear position and detailed legal assessment of the case while responding to all the measures on which Bitar had asked prosecutors to give their opinion.

One of the key issues concerns what action can be taken against defendants who appeared before Bitar for questioning but were subsequently released without any measures being taken against them at the time.

The Public Prosecution has also established its position on all defendants, including lawmakers and ministers, and assessed the degree of legal responsibility borne by each person accused in the case.

Probe examines ammonium nitrate supply chain

The prosecution’s review also extends to the causes that led to the explosion and the chain surrounding the huge quantity of ammonium nitrate stored at the port.

It has examined leads concerning the owners of the ammonium nitrate and those who may have actually benefited from bringing the material into Lebanon and storing it in Warehouse 12.

The inquiry also considers whether the identities of those ultimately responsible extend beyond the names appearing on the official paperwork associated with the vessel and its cargo when the shipment was brought to Beirut.

The Public Prosecution has not limited its review to the material formally referred to it by Bitar.

In its capacity as the prosecuting authority, it has also examined issues raised publicly in the media and provided assessments and answers on those questions.

It has further addressed the names of individuals who were mentioned in media reports but were not included in Bitar’s charges, a step intended to eliminate potential ambiguity over their status and prevent further controversy later.