LEBANON/MILITARY: “Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday that most people think the deadly explosion Tuesday in Lebanon that killed at least 100 people was an accident, contradicting President Donald Trump, who said American generals told him it was likely caused by a bomb.
Esper said the U.S. was still gathering information about the explosion, but said most believe ‘it was an accident, as reported.'”
-Lolita C. Baldor and Deb Riechmann, “US officials dispute Trump’s claim that Beirut was attacked,” apnews.com, Aug. 5, 2020