Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasized the importance of accountability in establishing the rule of law, stating that the rule of law cannot be built on slogans and that no one is above accountability. He asserted that there can be no settlement at the expense of justice and that those responsible must be held accountable. Salam also declared that decisions regarding war and peace rest solely with the state. On the fifth anniversary of the Beirut port explosion, which resulted in 235 deaths and 6,500 injuries, Lebanese President Michel Aoun reaffirmed the commitment to press all relevant authorities to bring those responsible to justice, stating that justice will not die and accountability is inevitable. The U.S. Embassy in Beirut expressed support for the Lebanese people's demand for accountability and called for an independent judiciary that serves the victims rather than protecting elites. The embassy also reiterated Washington's commitment to a stable, prosperous, and sovereign Lebanon achieved by its people without external interference. Despite significant reconstruction in Beirut, scars from the explosion remain. The investigation and rebuilding efforts remain incomplete five years after the blast.