Lebanese army soldiers were reported Saturday night to have violently beaten Hezbollah supporters during a protest in Beirut, according to a single unverified report. The incident marks an escalation in the Lebanese military's attempts to break up demonstrations by the Iran-backed militia's backers.
According to a single unverified report from an Israeli security channel, Lebanese army soldiers were seen beating Hezbollah supporters at a protest in Beirut Saturday night. The report did not specify the size of the protest or the number of casualties.
As The Zioneer reported at 00:55 Jerusalem, the Lebanese army had earlier moved in to break up a Hezbollah demonstration in central Beirut after hours of unrest following the announcement of a framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The new report suggests the military's response has turned violent.
The incident underscores the deepening tension between the Lebanese state and Hezbollah, which the Lebanese foreign minister has himself labeled an 'Iranian arm' and 'unlawful military organization.' It remains unclear whether the violence was a one-off escalation or a systematic shift in military policy toward the militia's base.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake