The nightly protest in Beirut: clashes between the army and Hezbollah and Amal supporters

On the third day of clashes in the Lebanese capital, military forces dispersed tear gas against Shiite activists who were furious about a video mocking their clerics. They set fire to tires, threw stones and set fire to cars. The state has been paralyzed since the start of the protest two months ago, and talks to form a government are stuck

The nightly protest in Beirut: clashes between the army and Hezbollah and Amal supporters

Lebanese forces fired tear gas at Hezbollah and Shi'ite supporters yesterday (Tuesday) who tried to storm a square in Beirut following a video of prominent leaders being mocked by their community. Hundreds of young people on motorcycles, waving party flags and religious flags, gathered in the center of the capital shouting "Shiites, Shiites" while setting fire to tires. Witnesses said they threw stones and fireworks at the nearby security forces.

Ignoring the calls of politicians, the young men tried to break through a police checkpoint in the square where they had erected tents against the government for two months in protest. Television networks saw young people burning tires, destroying office buildings and setting fire to several cars, close to the main road connecting eastern and western parts of Beirut.

More on the protest in Lebanon

Protesters tried to break through a security barrier. Beirut clashes tonight (Photo: Reuters)

Protests in Beirut Lebanon, December 16, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

The protesters in the square have been attacked in the past by Shiite organizations who were outraged by calls against their political leaders, but the nightly acts of violence were overtly sectarian. The video, which ignited the cravings in a culturally deeply divided state, was produced by Sony from the northern city of Tripoli and posted on social networks. It was the third consecutive night of demonstrations in the city.

In the southern city of Sidon, where most of the population is Sunni, groups of masked youths stormed the main square and set fire to several tents where we protested for a few weeks.

Because of calls against Nasrallah: clashes between Hezbollah supporters and protesters in Beirut

(Photo: Reuters)

Protests in Beirut Lebanon, December 16, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

Since the protests, which broke out in October, have led Sa'ad al-Hariri to resign as prime minister, talks between the major parties on the formation of a new government remain stuck. Lebanon urgently needs a new government to bring it out of the economic crisis, because the international community allocates its economic aid to the country only if a government is established that can pass tough reforms.

The protest began due to growing rage over the cost of living, a plan to levy new taxes and the conduct of the ruling politicians on the state based on sectarian power plots since the civil war that took place between 1975 and 1990. Protesters accuse politicians of robbing the public jackpot through loyalty networks.

The economic crisis in Lebanon, which has been building for years, culminated: the pressure on the pound increased, many importers unable to purchase goods, and banks restricting dollar withdrawals. The sanctions imposed by the United States on Lebanese officials because of their ties to Hezbollah, which was part of the outgoing government, have also hampered the economic situation. Hassan Nasrallah, secretary-general of the Iranian-backed Shiite organization, insists that the new government should include political parties, not just professionals, as the protesters demand.