ISRAEL’S hand in the Beirut blast is not out of the question, although it is being claimed that the blast was mainly caused by NH4NO3 ammonium nitrate.

But it’s not possible that it can be triggered by a welding flame as is being suggested on social media. With the passage of time NH4NO3 acquires moisture, becomes rock solid and loses its white crystalline salt-like property. In that state, mere welding flames are not enough to cause the blast because the compound become more inert.

Obviously, someone in the port was aware of that because rock solid NH4NO3 is 10 times more inert than powder, but more powerful if blasted with high explosive trigger, something like a small bomb or missile or any IED.

A mere welding flame cannot combust that. Unaware of what they are carrying under their seats, warlords of Beirut were sitting calmly over death mine. I think an Israeli drone triggered enough sparks to blast those NH4NO3 moist rocks which caused that explosion.

Ali Shan
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2020