Lebanese Protesters Storm Foreign Ministry

Demonstrators stand on the premises of Lebanese Foreign Ministry during a protest following Tuesday's blast, in Beirut, Lebanon August 8, 2020. (Reuters)
Demonstrators stand on the premises of Lebanese Foreign Ministry during a protest following Tuesday's blast, in Beirut, Lebanon August 8, 2020. (Reuters)
TT

Lebanese Protesters Storm Foreign Ministry

Demonstrators stand on the premises of Lebanese Foreign Ministry during a protest following Tuesday's blast, in Beirut, Lebanon August 8, 2020. (Reuters)
Demonstrators stand on the premises of Lebanese Foreign Ministry during a protest following Tuesday's blast, in Beirut, Lebanon August 8, 2020. (Reuters)

A group of Lebanese protesters including retired army officers briefly stormed the Foreign Ministry building in the capital Beirut on Saturday as part of protests following the massive explosion this week.

The protesters said the Ministry would be the headquarters for a “revolution” and called on the current government to resign.

Retired army officer Sami Ramah read a statement on the building's steps after dozens of protesters pushed their way into the building. “This authority must step down,” he said.

Protesters raised flags with the image of a fist that has come to symbolize nationwide anti-government protests.

Some of the nearly 200 protesters entered the building and burned a few documents and pictures of Lebanese President Michel Aoun, representative for many of a political class that has ruled Lebanon for decades and which they say is to blame for its deep political and economic crises.

“We are staying here. We call on the Lebanese people to occupy all the ministries,” a demonstrator said by megaphone.

Rage against the government spiked after the Beirut port explosion Tuesday that killed nearly 160 people and injured 6,000 while leaving much of the coastline mangled.

Protesters gathered in central Beirut clashed with security forces. At least 100 were wounded.

TV footage later showed protesters also breaking into the energy and economy ministries and trashing the offices of the Association of Lebanese Banks in Beirut.

But the Foreign Ministry takeover was cut short when a large army reinforcement muscled in, forcing everyone out.

Public anger had already been rising in Lebanon before the blast because of an unprecedented financial crisis in which the national currency lost 80% of its value. Banks imposed informal capital controls in a controversial effort to control the collapse of the pound and foreign currency flight. The dire conditions were deepened with rising power cuts and concerns that hospitals were facing severe shortages and financial troubles.



Death Toll in Lebanon Crosses 3,000 in 13-Month Israel-Hezbollah War, Health Ministry Says

A building destroyed during an Israeli airstrike southern Lebanese town of Ghazieh, 03 November 2024. (EPA)
A building destroyed during an Israeli airstrike southern Lebanese town of Ghazieh, 03 November 2024. (EPA)
TT

Death Toll in Lebanon Crosses 3,000 in 13-Month Israel-Hezbollah War, Health Ministry Says

A building destroyed during an Israeli airstrike southern Lebanese town of Ghazieh, 03 November 2024. (EPA)
A building destroyed during an Israeli airstrike southern Lebanese town of Ghazieh, 03 November 2024. (EPA)

More than 3,000 people have been killed in Lebanon during 13 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon's Health Ministry said Monday. At least 13,492 have been injured.

Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel the day after Hamas’ surprise attack into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 ignited the war in Gaza. Hezbollah and Hamas are both allied with Iran.

The conflict dramatically escalated on Sept. 23 with intense Israeli airstrikes on south and east Lebanon as well as Beirut’s southern suburbs, leaving hundreds dead and leading to the displacement of nearly 1.2 million people.

Israel began a ground invasion of south Lebanon on Oct. 1, causing wide destruction in border villages but making little advances on the ground inside Lebanon.

In Israel, 72 people have been killed from Hezbollah attacks, including 30 soldiers.