US officials dispute Trump’s claim that Beirut was attacked

U.S. officials said Wednesday re is indication massive explosion in Leban that killed at least 100 people was an attack, contricting President Donald Trump who said American generals told him it was likely caused by a bomb.

officials, speaking only on condition of anymity to discuss internal assessments, said that while it’ was t out of realm of possibility that blast was deliberately caused, belief so far is that it was most likely an accident.

From outset, U.S. officials have said that y did t kw cause of initial fire and explosions that set off larger blast. But y say y do believe reports out of Leban claiming a large stockpile of ammonium nitrate left over from a seizure is what exploded.

On Tuesday, Trump offered condolences to victims and said United States stood rey to assist Leban. “It looks like a terrible attack,” he said.

Trump was asked why he called it an attack and t an accident, especially since Lebanese officials said y h t determined cause of explosion. He told reporters at White House: “It would seem like it based on explosion. I met with some of our great generals and y just seem to feel that it was. This was t a — some kind of a manufacturing explosion of a event. ... y seem to think it was an attack. It was a bomb of some kind, yes.”

From video and or evidence, experts suggest that fireworks and ammonium nitrate were fuel that ignited explosion that rocked Lebanese capital. scale of dam — from area of explosion at port of Beirut to windows blown out miles away — resembled or blasts involving chemical compound commonly used as an agricultural fertilizer.

compound typically does t detonate on its own and requires ar ignition source. That likely came from a fire that engulfed what initially appeared to be fireworks stored at port. Lebanese government said it was putting an unspecified number of Beirut port officials under house arrest pending an investigation into how 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate came to be stored at port for years.

U.S. officials said that re were indications that any of Americans stationed in Beirut were killed or injured.