Protests In Beirut
In Lebanon, the conflict over the legal processing of the devastating port explosion in Beirut has turned into deadly street violence through protests in Beirut .
Beirut – At least five people were killed today, according to the Interior Ministry. According to military sources, an open firefight broke out in the capital when supporters of the Shiite Hezbollah militia were attacked from a Christian quarter on their way to a protest rally. Gunshots and several explosions could be heard for hours, as reported by Reuters. The army finally moved in with a large contingent and threatened to shoot at every armed man on the street. Prime Minister Najib Mikati meanwhile called for calm.
Hezbollah demonstrators took to the streets armed with weapons.
Hezbollah supporters were on their way to the Palace of Justice when the violence broke out. They wanted to demand the removal of the judge who is entrusted with the case of the port explosion in August 2020.
However, when the crowd reached the traffic junction that separates the Christian and Shiite districts, according to military sources, shots were initially fired from the Christian district of Ain el-Remmaneh. Eventually it turned into an exchange of fire.
