In Lebanon, the Port Explosion Anniversary Reignites Violent Protests

In Lebanon, renewed public anger sparked by the anniversary of last year’s Beirut port explosion could spiral into widespread political violence if the anti-government protests begin posing an existential threat to the country’s established parties. At least 85 people were injured on the evening of Aug. 4 in clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Beirut’s Martyrs Square during protests marking the one-year anniversary of the deadly port explosion. Riot police deployed tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets against demonstrators, who were throwing rocks at security forces according to Al Jazeera. In addition to the main clashes, members of the Lebanese Forces (LF) political party assaulted demonstrators outside the party’s offices. ...