Islam Times - IRGC Voices Readiness to Assist Lebanon after Beirut Blast

Islam Times - In a message to Hezbollah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps [IRGC] Major General Hossein Salami expressed the forces’ readiness to assist Lebanon following the massive blast that rocked the Lebanese capital and killed more than 100 people.

In his message on Wednesday, Major General Salami offered his condolences to Sayyed Nasrallah, the Lebanese government and nation over the large number of deaths and injuries in Tuesday’s blast at Beirut’s port.

Salami also assured the government and nation of Lebanon that the IRGC is ready to provide any help to the citizens who have been injured or have suffered losses in the tragic incident.

Relatively, in remarks at a Wednesday session of the cabinet of ministers, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani assigned Iran’s Red Crescent Society to immediately send Lebanon humanitarian aid, including medical and health supplies.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun declared a two-week state of emergency following the tragedy.

The explosion sent shockwaves across the city, causing widespread damage even on the outskirts of the capital.

Officials said they expected the death toll to rise further as emergency workers dug through rubble to rescue people and remove the dead.

Officials linked the blast to hundreds of tons of confiscated ammonium nitrate that were being stored in a warehouse at the port for six years.

The explosion has also destroyed Lebanon’s silos that contain the national grain reserve. Lebanon imports up to 80 percent of its food needs and is particularly reliant on imported soft wheat to make Arabic flatbread. About 85 per cent of the country's grains were reportedly stored in the facility.