Mass protests in Beirut; USUP President Ibrahim Mrad: Lebanon must be placed under international protection and guardianship

BEIRUT — Following the massive explosion that rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut and left at least 150 people dead and injured over 6,000, President of the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP) Ibrahim Mrad described the incident as a national disaster.

Mrad indicated that the ruling political forces in Lebanon use the state for their own interests, describing it as a government that is mortgaged to Iran and Hezbollah.

Mrad wondered about the reason behind the silence of the dominant parties in Lebanon, indicating that Lebanon collapsed as a result of the manipulation of political elites robbing the state and the presence of armed militias in the country.

To solve Lebanon’s dire conditions, Mrad called for the county to be temporarily placed under international protection and guardianship.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard, through Hezbollah, has established depots of dangerous explosive and chemical materials in residential areas, pointed out Mrad, and without any reaction by the government because it is a partner of Hezbollah.

Mrad also called on the country’s dominant political parties to stand together, hand in hand, for the progress of Lebanon. He also called on them not to let the Lebanese people and the martyrs’ families down, extending condolences to the families of the victims of the explosion.

On Saturday, protesters took to the street and called for the resignation of the government and an end to corruption.

By the earlier evening, protesters had stormed and taken over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Beirut.

Protesters inside the foreign affairs Ministry chanting insults against former foreign minister Gebran Bassil. pic.twitter.com/oiIaxK4zHr

— Sunniva Rose (@Sunniva_Rose) August 8, 2020