A number of world countries and the United Nations called for a halt to the escalation in Lebanon, following bloody clashes that took place earlier today, Thursday, in two areas in the capital, Beirut, which killed 6 and wounded others, while Kuwait called on its citizens to leave Lebanon.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said - in press statements - that Washington joins its voice with the Lebanese authorities in its call for calm and a halt to the escalation of tension. The spokesman criticized the behavior of the Lebanese Hezbollah, describing it as destabilizing for Lebanon.

The US State Department spokesman expressed his country's rejection of any attempts to intimidate the judiciary in Lebanon, in reference to the refusal of Hezbollah, the Amal movement and some forces allied with them to continue the work of the investigative judge, Tariq al-Bitar, in the explosion of the port of Beirut, and accusing him of politicizing the investigations.

The spark that erupted in today's bloody clashes was an armed attack on protesters who were heading to a demonstration called by Hezbollah to demand the removal of the investigating judge. that erupted between 1975 and 1990.

The French Foreign Ministry stressed the need for "the Lebanese judiciary to be able to work independently and impartially within the framework of this investigation into the explosion in the port of Beirut."

France and Turkey

France expressed its deep concern about the bloody violence that took place in Lebanon today, Thursday, and called on all parties to calm down, and the French Foreign Ministry stressed the need for "the Lebanese judiciary to be able to work independently and impartially within the framework of this investigation into the explosion of the port of Beirut, without hindrances and with full support." from the Lebanese authorities.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also called on all Lebanese parties to exercise restraint and refrain from acts of violence so that such incidents do not recur, and the ministry expressed its hope that "those responsible for this serious incident will be arrested and brought to justice as soon as possible."

Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, said today, Thursday, that the Secretary-General called on all concerned in Lebanon to immediately stop acts of violence, and to stop provocative acts and inflammatory rhetoric, and Guterres renewed his call for a thorough, independent and transparent investigation into the massive Beirut explosion. Which occurred on August 4, 2020, killing 217 people and wounding about 7,000 others, as well as causing enormous material damage.

The Kuwaiti embassy in Lebanon called on Kuwaiti citizens to leave the country and urged those wishing to travel to Lebanon to be patient.

Later on Thursday, Qatar's embassy in Beirut issued an alert urging its citizens to exercise caution and avoid "sites of security disturbances."