Published: 12:56, August 6, 2020 | Updated: 20:42, June 5, 2023
Trump harps on Beirut 'attack' despite Pentagon position
By Reuters

This Aug 5, 2020 shows damaged structures and debris at the site of an explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon. (HUSSEIN MALLA / AP)

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday doubled down on his unsubstantiated claim that he thinks the deadly explosions in the Lebanese capital of Beirut could be "an attack," dismissing his own Pentagon chief's assessment.

I mean, somebody left some terrible explosive type of devices and things around, perhaps it was that, perhaps it was on attack. I don't think anybody can say right now.

Donald Trump, US president

"I mean, somebody left some terrible explosive type of devices and things around, perhaps it was that, perhaps it was on attack. I don't think anybody can say right now," Trump said at a press conference. "You have some people think it was an attack and some people think it wasn't."

Trump previously claimed at the White House on Tuesday that he had "met with some of our great generals and they just seem to feel that this was not some kind of a manufacturing explosion type of event".

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His claim was contradicted by US defense officials, including US Defence Secretary Mark Esper, who said on Wednesday that while the Pentagon was still gathering information about the explosions, "most believe that it was an accident as reported."

Two massive explosions rocked Beirut on Tuesday. Primary information reveals that they might have been caused by ammonium nitrate stored since 2014 in warehouse No. 12 at Port of Beirut.

Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan said on Wednesday that the explosions left at least 135 people dead and 5,000 others injured. 

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