The U.S. military is sending several planeloads of humanitarian aid and medical supplies to Lebanon following a massive explosion at a port in Beirut that killed and wounded more than 5,000 people.
Three shipment planes are en route to Lebanon to deliver food, water, and medical supplies to help the country recover from the explosion, the cause of which is still unclear. While President Donald Trump indicated that it may have been a military strike, U.S. military officials have said they do not currently see evidence for the theory.
Gen. Frank McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, which operates in the Middle East, recently spoke with Lebanese Armed Forces commander Gen. Joseph Aoun "to express condolences for the loss of life and devastation caused by the explosion," according to information provided by CENTCOM.
McKenzie further "expressed U.S. willingness to continue to work with the Lebanese Armed Forces to help provide aid and assistance to meet the needs of the Lebanese people during this terrible tragedy," according to a readout of his call with his Lebanese counterpart.
Israel also offered humanitarian assistance and displayed Lebanon’s flag on government buildings to express solidarity with its northern neighbor, which has traditionally been a foe of the Jewish state due to the Iranian-funded terror group Hezbollah’s near-total control of the country’s government and military.