‘Political targeting’: Hezbollah chief denounces blast judge

Lebanon’s leaders have frequently criticised Judge Bitar after he questioned some of the most senior politicians.

Beirut, Lebanon – Hezbollah’s leader on Monday accused the judge leading the Beirut Port explosion investigation of being politicised, telling victims of the deadly blast “you won’t get the truth”.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Judge Tarek Bitar was using “the blood of the victims to serve political interests”. He previously accused Bitar of “playing politics” on the anniversary of the blast in August.

“I say to the families of the victims, ‘if you think that this judge will get you to the truth – he won’t’,” Nasrallah said in a televised address. “We want an honest and transparent judge.”