2021 Beirut clashes

During the Lebanese Civil War of 1975–1990, parties and militias formed along religious, ideological, and ethnic lines. Lebanon's capital Beirut was divided, as Sunni and Shia Muslim, Palestinian, and Christian factions fought for control.[6] Among the groups which emerged during this period were the Lebanese Forces, Hezbollah, and Amal Movement.[7] The Lebanese Forces originated as a militia which united various right-wing Christian parties,[8] while Hezbollah and Amal were organized as Shia militant groups that were opposed to the Christian factions. Historically, Hezbollah and Amal struggled for dominance within the Lebanese Shia community, with Hezbollah eventually becoming the predominant faction.[9] Various foreign countries intervened in the civil war, most prominently Israel and Syria, further muddling allegiances and worsening violent factionalism.[10]

Following the civil war, armed groups like the Lebanese Forces, Amal, and Hezbollah transformed into political parties, yet continued to field paramilitary wings.[11] Hezbollah remained particularly committed to its armed forces which grew into a medium-sized army.[12] In the 2000s, Lebanon's political scene divided into two main blocs which formed in accordance to parties' stance regarding Syria's influence on the country. The March 14 Alliance, which includes the Lebanese Forces, is anti-Syrian, whereas the pro-Syrian March 8 Alliance is backed by Hezbollah and Amal.[13]

Lebanon had been in a state of financial crisis since 2019, and the situation gradually worsened with the COVID-19 recession and the explosion in the port of Beirut. In August 2021, a fuel tanker explosion in Akkar District killed dozens of people.[14] During autumn of 2021, the Lebanese energy market collapsed upon fuel shortages and on 9 October 2021, the country plunged into a 24-hour national blackout, as power plants ran out of fuel.[15] The leaders of both the Amal Movement and Hezbollah, Nabih Berri and Hassan Nasrallah, have called for an end to the investigation into the explosion by Tarek Bitar, as they accuse him of being partisan.[16] Bitar is characterized as having no party bias or political affiliation.[17][18]

On 14 October 2021, protests were held in the Tayouneh neighborhood of Beirut by supporters of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement; several of the demonstrators were armed. They were calling for the removal of Tarek Bitar, the judge appointed to investigate the Beirut port explosion.[1][19][20] At one point, the protesters entered the Christian neighbourhood of Ain el Remmeneh. The demonstrators were shot at by snipers from nearby buildings, though the latter's identity was unclear.[21][22][23][24] The attackers even used rocket-propelled grenades, and also attacked Lebanese Armed Forces soldiers.[25] Hezbollah claimed the snipers were Lebanese Forces supporters, though this is unconfirmed.[22][1][26] Later on, a video surfaced showing a Lebanese Army soldier shooting at the demonstrators.[24]

Fighting consequently erupted in Beirut, as Hezbollah militants shot assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, including at the buildings where the snipers were allegedly located.[21][22][23] Four projectiles fell near a private French school, Freres of Furn el Chebbak, causing a panic.[21] The Lebanese Army was one of the first to evacuate people from the area.[27] Lebanese Armed Forces patrols, including special forces, tried to restore order; doing so, they clashed with gunmen and used live ammunition.[25]

Hezbollah-affiliated activists have claimed, but not verified, that one of the snipers was Shukri Abu Saab, an employee of the US embassy in Beirut.[28] A Syrian national was among those arrested and detained in connection with the sniper and militant attacks.[29]

Seven people were killed overall in the incident.[30][5] The Amal Movement and Hezbollah lost three dead militants each; one of the Hezbollah casualties was a participant in the Syrian Civil War.[1] In addition, a woman was killed inside her home.[30][5] Overall, 32 people were injured.[31] The clash only escalated fears of an imminent collapse of Lebanon and a return to the days of the Lebanese Civil War.[32] The Lebanese Army consequently raided several locations in Beirut, arresting nine individuals connected to the parties involved in the clash. President Michel Aoun vowed to "bring the perpetrators to justice".[30][22] The Lebanese Armed Forces has opened an investigation into the footage of a soldier opening fire at the demonstrators.[24]

The clashes caused great trauma among Lebanese, who did not wish to return to the days of the Lebanese Civil War.[33] Banks, schools, offices and shops closed in many places as funerals of those killed in the clashes were held.[34]

On 4 August 2023,Protesters in Beirut mark the third anniversary of the massive non-nuclear explosion, demanding justice for over 220 people killed and 6,500 injured. The investigation remains stalled due to political interference, leaving survivors still seeking answers.[35]