Lebanese government ministers resign within hours over deadly blast

Lebanon's Justice Minister Marie Claude Najm, Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad, and Environment Minister Damianos Kattar have all resigned from their posts.

Per Al Jazeera, the resignations come after a week of unrest and protests following in the country following the devastating port blast on Tuesday (August 4) that killed over 200 people and left over 5,000 injured.

President Donald Trump has also announced that the US will be providing "substantial" aid to Lebanon but has not specified how much.

Earlier today, CNN reported that two government sources told the publication that the country's government is expected to step down today (10th August). This comes less than a week after the explosion, which has damaged or destroyed much of the Lebanese capital, and was linked to the 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had long been stored at Beirut's port.

A senior ministerial source told the publication that he believed the government would be reduced to caretaker status by Monday night.

As well as the three cabinet ministers who have already quit, seven members of parliament have also resigned.

The blast comes in the wake of Lebanon suffering its worst economic crisis in decades. As well as rising rates of Covid-19, the government has been accused of corruption and gross mismanagement.

The tragic blast is believed to be the last straw for many of Lebanon's citizens.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab ascended to power last December, two months after a popular uprising brought down the preceding government.

Beirut saw violent protests over the weekend, marking the worst that the city has seen in the past year. Protestors occupied several government ministries and threw stones and glass at security forces.

Per CNN, law enforcement fired hundreds of rounds of tear gas, rubber bullets, and even live fire.