DEVELOPING STORY: Violent protests have erupted outside the U.S. embassy in Beirut and there have been reports of other mobs gathering outside American embassies in Iraq and Yemen.
The State Dept. warned Americans not to travel to Beiruit.
“The Lebanese government cannot guarantee the protection of U.S. citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence,” the advisory states. “Family, neighborhood, or sectarian disputes can escalate quickly and can lead to gunfire or other violence with no warning. Armed clashes have occurred along the borders, in Beirut, and in refugee settlements.”
The protests were the result of a hospital that was allegedly targeted by rocket fire Tuesday night.
Iran’s foreign minister said more than 1,000 people were killed in the blast.
“After the terrible crime of the Zionist regime in the bombing and massacre of more than 1,000 innocent women and children in the hospital, the time has come for the global unity of humanity against this fake regime more hated than ISIS and its killing machine,” Hossein Amir-Abdallohian tweeted.
However, video filmed at sunrise shows the rockets hit the parking lot of the hospital. The buildings were not destroyed.
And Israel has irrefutable proof that the rockets were fired from Gaza by Islamic Jihad.
President Biden said he is convinced the evidence provided by Israel is authentic.
“I was outraged by the bombing of the hospital yesterday. Based on what I’ve seen, it was done by the other team. Not you,” Biden said to Netanyahu. “But there’s a lot of people out there who are not sure.”
A NOTE FROM TODD: There is an urgent need right now for help in Israel. Click here to find out how you can join the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
Demonstrations are currently taking place in Beirut, Lebanon. @alexrossiSKY reports live from nearby the US embassy where people are protesting.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 18, 2023
He describes the atmosphere as "very charged."https://t.co/DP6jDq5NpE
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/CLafMdrD6l
People in Beirut, Lebanon are protesting infront of the US embassy pic.twitter.com/W3z1MhNHqv
— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) October 18, 2023
the Lebanese rally in front of the American embassy in Beirut pic.twitter.com/lQDClzq8e5
— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) October 18, 2023