Sunday 22 / December / 2024
Beirut: The Lebanese army said on Saturday that it was probing a soldier suspected of firing toward protesters in Beirut on Thursday.
Seven people died in the clashes that broke out near the site of a demonstration against the judge heading an inquiry into a deadly port blast in Beirut last year.
"Videos showing military shooting at demonstrators during clashes that broke out two days ago in the Tayouna (Teyouneh) area have spread through social media," the army said in a statement on Facebook, adding that "the military shooter is under investigation under the supervision of the competent jurisdiction."
On Thursday, the country saw its worst violence in over a decade when gun battles erupted on the streets of Beirut in deadly sectarian clashes.
The violence was reminiscent of the country's catastrophic 1975-90 civil war.
A protest outside the Justice Palace was called for by Hezbollah and its supporters demanding the dismissal of Judge Tarek Bitar, who is leading the inquiry into the August 4, 2020, port explosion.
The army had earlier said that rounds were fired at demonstrators as they crossed the Teyouneh traffic circle that divides Christian and Shiite Muslim neighbourhoods.
It later said that there had been "altercation and exchange of fire" as protesters were on their way to the demonstration.
Iran-backed Hezbollah and Lebanese Forces, a right-wing Christian political party, have blamed each other for the clashes.
Defense Minister Maurice Selim said a stampede and a clash in Teyouneh led to gunfire by both sides. He added that the sniper fire came after the exchange of fire.
