After the recent port blast, thousands of Lebanese people took at the streets of the capital, Beirut, to protest against the political elite leading the country since 1991.
The blast, which rocked the city’s port on August, was reportedly result of rooting corruption and neglect. A large part of Beirut was damaged by the blast, which claimed the lives of more than 150 people and injured 6,000 others.
The protesters gathered at the capital’s heart, the Martyrs Square, where they hanged cardboard figures of Lebanese politicians, including the President Michel Aoun and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
#Lebanon protesters put up gallow and hang cutouts of the country’s political class, including the leader of Hezbollah, the president, the speaker of parliament, and so on. pic.twitter.com/kWrVkpNJZf
— Timour Azhari (@timourazhari) August 8, 2020
Lebanese security forces confronted the protesters in different parts of Beirut, firing tear gas grenades and rubber bullets at them.
Russia 1 (state TV) presenter seemingly gets hit by a tear gas grenade in Beirut. pic.twitter.com/GpaYfpL6RX
— Ollie Richardson (@O_Rich_) August 8, 2020
The markings would suggest they’re French. Merci Emmanuel https://t.co/KmW7WtGfW3
— Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) August 8, 2020
The clashes led to an escalation, with the protesters storming a number of government buildings, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Environment, the Association of Banks and the Ministry of Energy and Water.
Bank Association building in #Beirut has been ransacked. pic.twitter.com/K2iOv6avrX
— Aldin (@aldin_ww) August 8, 2020
Ministry of Energy and Water has been stormed in #Beirut pic.twitter.com/NZNFchxShY
— Aldin (@aldin_ww) August 8, 2020
All of a sudden, Army started beating protesters viscously near ring. As I was filming, army beat me and threw my phone away. Army still beating other protesters. #LebanonProtests pic.twitter.com/COQbWRGzC8
— Aya Majzoub (@Aya_Majzoub) August 8, 2020
According to the Lebanese Red Cross, 238 people were injured in the clashes. At least 70 were hospitalized. Security forces also announced that one of its personnel was killed by “killer rioters.”
Beirut’s Fire Department refused a request for help by Lebanese security forces. A number of firefighter from the department were killed in the port blast. The victims were not informed that dangerous materials were present at the site of the initial fire.
The protests in Beirut received wide coverage from Israeli media, which highlighted some chants against Hezbollah and its allies. Other chants against politicians known to be allies of the U.S. received less coverage.
Meanwhile, the U.S.A. expressed support to the protestors on the Twitter account of its Embassy in Beirut:
The most recent reports from Beirut show that security forces are retaking control. Protesters were pushed out from the Martyrs Square and most government buildings.
#Lebanon Army chasing and beating people around Martyrs Square.pic.twitter.com/WsmqMRUDTS
— Aldin (@aldin_ww) August 8, 2020
Lebanon is now witnessing a new phase of chaos that can potentially lead to a civil war. Prime Minister Hassan Diab called for an early parliamentary election. This could ether lead to a real reform or deepen the country’s problems.
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