The Bank of Lebanon issued the following statement: Within the framework of the Bank of Lebanon’s commitment to strengthening the principles of transparency and accountability, and after completing the forensic audit tender in accordance with the principles and procedures approved within the framework of public procurement, which was accompanied by the Ministries of Finance and Justice through their participation in the relevant committees, including the Receiving Committee and the Obligation Committee, which led to Alvarez & Marsal is in the tender to carry out the forensic audit mission in a number of selected operations related to the foreign assets of the Bank of Lebanon. After the company officially commenced its work on August 17, 2026, the Bank of Lebanon held a meeting today, Wednesday, with the Alvarez & Marsal to launch the mission and follow up on its implementation stages, in the presence of the company representative, Mr. Manuel Makki, and Mr. James Daniel, who is responsible for the audit mission, along with members of the supporting team. The audit mission covers the period from October 1, 2019 until December 31, 2023, and includes a number of operations related to the foreign assets of the Bank of Lebanon, including programs to support basic goods and materials, some bank transfers and public sector transfers, in addition to documentary credits related to the import of fuel. The audit aims to review these operations, track the path of the relevant funds, and verify the procedures and mechanisms adopted in their implementation, based on the documents, data and records available to the various concerned parties. Since the beginning of the mission, the Bank of Lebanon has worked to provide the required documents and data and facilitate the work of the audit team. In this context, the Bank appreciates the full cooperation shown by all relevant ministries and public departments in providing the required information, documents and clarifications, especially the Ministry of Economy and Trade, the Ministry of Energy and Water, the Ministry of Public Health, and the Ministry of Agriculture, in addition to other relevant ministries and authorities. It also appreciates the cooperation of commercial banks and other concerned parties, which contributes to the complete completion of the audit mission. The Bank of Lebanon confirms its continued full cooperation with Alvarez & Marsal until the completion of the audit work and reaching independent and documented results that contribute to clarifying the processes covered by the task and enhancing transparency and accountability. This audit also comes within the framework of the Bank of Lebanon’s keenness to document and confirm its financial rights related to the amounts paid from its assets in foreign currencies, especially within the framework of support programs, and to safeguard these rights based on the final results of the audit.