Violence Erupts in Beirut Amid Protest for Justice

Heavy gunfire broke out in Beirut, Lebanon, on Thursday, October 14, just before a demonstration aimed at calling for the removal of a judge who leads the investigation into the 2020 port blast.

The Impact of Armed Clashes

The Lebanese Red Cross reported six fatalities resulting from armed confrontations in the city. Lebanon’s interior minister, Bassam Mawlawi, stated that snipers and gunmen “shot people in the head,” alongside the firing of four B7 rockets into the air. This marks the most severe violence Beirut has faced in over a decade.

Details of the Protest

Numerous supporters of Iran-backed Hezbollah and its main Shia ally, Amal, marched toward the city’s Palace of Justice. However, as they approached, shots rang out from an unknown location, prompting both demonstrators and journalists to seek shelter, according to statements from Mawlawi, the army, and local media reports. Social media footage captured masked gunmen, seemingly associated with the protesters, firing RPGs and AK-47s from alleyways, garbage dumps, and street barricades.

Hezbollah’s Opposition

Hezbollah has openly opposed Tarek Bitar, the prominent judge leading the investigation into the Beirut blast, striving for the prosecution of high-ranking officials.