Protesters Hurl Rocks at Security Forces During Anti-Government Demonstrations in Beirut

Protesters hurled rocks at security forces blocking streets near Lebanon’s parliament building in Beirut on January 19 as anti-government demonstrations turned violent and riot police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse crowds.

This video captured by one demonstrator shows protesters throwing objects at security forces blocking a street.

The weekend demonstrations started in Martyrs’ Square, where on Saturday over 140 protesters were injured during violent clashes with security forces, the Lebanese Red Cross said.

Anti-government protests have been ongoing since October 2019 as residents staged demonstrations to voice their anger at the country’s political and economic elite. On January 14, Reuters reported that a United Nations official said Lebanese politicians were to blame for the country’s economic collapse and had failed to develop a plan to tackle the crisis. Credit: Marc Azzi via Storyful