Massive protests broke out across Iraq and Lebanon on Friday as tens of thousands took to the streets to denounce Israel’s continued military offensive against Iran, underscoring rising regional anger over the conflict.
In Beirut, supporters of Hezbollah, a powerful pro-Iranian militant group, converged in large numbers in the southern Dahieh suburb, a traditional Hezbollah stronghold.
The demonstrations commenced after Friday prayers outside the al-Qaeem Mosque, with crowds waving Hezbollah, Iranian, and Palestinian flags while chanting fiery slogans condemning Israel, the United States, and former U.S. President Donald Trump.
“America is the great Satan,” a protester shouted, echoing long-standing rhetoric from the movement. A recording of a past speech by the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September 2024, played over loudspeakers, adding to the charged atmosphere.
Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Ammar addressed the demonstrators, denouncing Israel’s threats against Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“No one can threaten the leaders of Iran,” he said defiantly. Overhead, Israeli drones flew low above the capital and southern suburbs, further stoking tensions.
Meanwhile, in Iraq, tens of thousands joined coordinated rallies in major cities including Baghdad, Karbala, and Najaf, despite scorching summer heat.
The demonstrations, driven by calls from influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, were led by religious figures and aimed at pressuring the Iraqi government to distance itself from Israel’s actions.
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Protesters demanded that Iraqi airspace be closed to any potential Israeli military activity, accusing the government of complicity if it failed to act.
Slogans condemning Israeli airstrikes echoed across rally points, as marchers expressed solidarity with Tehran and resistance to Western influence in the region.
The large-scale mobilization across both countries reflects deepening unease in the Middle East as the Israeli-Iranian confrontation intensifies.
With popular anger spilling into the streets, regional leaders face increasing pressure to adopt clearer stances in a conflict threatening to spiral beyond diplomatic containment.
The protests follow a week of escalating violence, with Israel continuing to target Iranian military assets and Hezbollah-linked positions, drawing condemnation from various political and religious quarters across the Arab world.
NAN
