Dozens of Lebanese protesters held a raucous anti-U.S. rally outside the fortified American Embassy in Beirut on Friday, denouncing what they said was Washington's interference in Lebanon's affairs while some chanted in support of the militant Hezbollah group.
The crowd, made up of mostly men, hurled stones at riot police near the embassy, from which they were separated by layers of barbed wire. Some protesters tried to remove the wire, at which point they were sprayed with water cannons.
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Dozens of Lebanese protesters held a raucous anti-U.S. rally outside the fortified American Embassy in Beirut on Friday, denouncing what they said was Washington's interference in Lebanon's affairs while some chanted in support of the militant Hezbollah group.
This is the second anti-U.S. protest in Beirut this week amid strained U.S.-Lebanese relations. Although the U.S., along with Israel and some other Western countries, has designated Hezbollah a terrorist group, Washington is also a major donor to the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Dozens of Lebanese also protested Wednesday near the Beirut airport, on the day Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the commander of the United States Central Command, visited Lebanon. The protesters denounced his visit and chanted “Death to America.”
Hezbollah supporters and communist groups throw stones at riot police during a protest against U.S. interference in Lebanon's affairs, near the U.S. embassy in Aukar, northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, July 10, 2020. (AP Photo Hussein Malla)
Hezbollah supporters and communist groups throw stones at riot police during a protest against U.S. interference in Lebanon's affairs, near the U.S. embassy in Aukar, northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, July 10, 2020. (AP Photo Hussein Malla)
Hezbollah supporters and communist groups try to remove barbed wires that block a road leading to the U.S. embassy during a protest against American interference in Lebanon's affairs, in Aukar, northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, July 10, 2020. (AP Photo Hussein Malla)
A Hezbollah supporter shouts slogans in front of riot police during a protest against the U.S. interference in Lebanon's affairs, near the U.S. embassy, in Aukar northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, July 10, 2020. (AP PhotoHussein Malla)
A supporter of a communist group burns a representation of U.S. currency, during a protest against U.S. interference in Lebanon's affairs, near the U.S. embassy, in Aukar northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, July 10, 2020. (AP PhotoHussein Malla)
The protesters burned American flags and mock-up dollar bills, calling the U.S. the “mother of terrorism.” The riot police eventually escorted the crowd away from the embassy area.
A Hezbollah supporter is sprayed by a water canon as he throws stones at riot police during a protest against U.S. interference in Lebanon's affairs, near the U.S. embassy, in Aukar northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, July 10, 2020. (AP PhotoHussein Malla)
This is the second anti-U.S. protest in Beirut this week amid strained U.S.-Lebanese relations. Although the U.S., along with Israel and some other Western countries, has designated Hezbollah a terrorist group, Washington is also a major donor to the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Lebanon is facing its worst economic and financial crisis, which has triggered anti-government protests and created domestic political tension between rival groups.
Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, recently blasted comments by U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea criticizing his group and said Washington was seeking to turn public opinion against it.
A supporter of a communist group shouts slogans during a protest against U.S. interference in Lebanon's affairs, near the U.S. embassy, in Aukar northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, July 10, 2020. (AP PhotoHussein Malla)
Dozens of Lebanese also protested Wednesday near the Beirut airport, on the day Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the commander of the United States Central Command, visited Lebanon. The protesters denounced his visit and chanted “Death to America.”
A Hezbollah supporter holds a placard during a protest against U.S. interference in Lebanon's affairs, near the U.S. embassy, in Aukar northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, July 10, 2020. (AP PhotoHussein Malla)
Hezbollah supporters and communist groups throw stones at riot police during a protest against U.S. interference in Lebanon's affairs, near the U.S. embassy in Aukar, northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, July 10, 2020. (AP Photo Hussein Malla)
Hezbollah supporters and communist groups throw stones at riot police during a protest against U.S. interference in Lebanon's affairs, near the U.S. embassy in Aukar, northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, July 10, 2020. (AP Photo Hussein Malla)
Hezbollah supporters and communist groups try to remove barbed wires that block a road leading to the U.S. embassy during a protest against American interference in Lebanon's affairs, in Aukar, northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, July 10, 2020. (AP Photo Hussein Malla)
A Hezbollah supporter shouts slogans in front of riot police during a protest against the U.S. interference in Lebanon's affairs, near the U.S. embassy, in Aukar northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, July 10, 2020. (AP PhotoHussein Malla)
A supporter of a communist group burns a representation of U.S. currency, during a protest against U.S. interference in Lebanon's affairs, near the U.S. embassy, in Aukar northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, July 10, 2020. (AP PhotoHussein Malla)