Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States stands ready to assist the Lebanese people after the massive explosion that rocked Beirut.
“I’d like to extend my deepest condolences to all those affected by the massive explosion at the port of Beirut today,” Pompeo said in a Tuesday afternoon statement. “We are closely monitoring and stand ready to assist the people of Lebanon as they recover from this tragedy.”
The blast, which left thousands injured and at least 73 dead, happened at about 6 p.m. local time and paralyzed the Lebanese capital. Hospitals were overloaded as thousands of wounded residents attempted to get treatment and locate family members.
Pompeo’s remarks came just before President Trump speculated that the explosion was not an accident and may have been an attack. Lebanese officials have not echoed Trump’s contention that the blast was an attack but did say that the port where it occurred may have been used to store some 2,700 tons of highly explosive ammonium nitrate.
“It would seem like [an attack], based on the explosion. I’ve met with some of our great generals, and they just seem to feel that it was. This was not some kind of a manufacturing explosion type of event,” Trump said in response to a reporter’s question at a news conference. “This was a — seems to be, according to them — they would know better than I would — but they seem to think it was an attack, it was a bomb of some kind.”
Pompeo’s statement did not speculate on the cause of the tragedy. He also alluded to the ongoing economic crisis gripping Lebanon, which is being exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Our team in Beirut has reported to me the extensive damage to a city and a people that I hold dear, an additional challenge in a time of already deep crisis. We understand that the Government of Lebanon continues to investigate its cause and look forward to the outcome of those efforts,” Pompeo said.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to the Pentagon and the White House for clarification about Trump’s remarks but did not immediately receive responses.
