Hezbollah protest over US army commander visit

Dozens of Hezbollah supporters gathered at the road leading to Beirut's international airport, in protest against the visit of a top US Army commander to Lebanon. The U.S. Central Command chief Kenneth F. McKenzie arrived in Beirut on Wednesday.

His visit, protesters say, is to mark the anniversary of a 1983 bombing against U.S. Marines in Beirut.

Hasan Illaik, a Journalist at the daily al-Akhbar newspaper, said "today we are standing here to tell the Americans that the honoured operation that took place on 23 October 1983 is an honor for us."

"It is one of the operations (attacks) that prevented Lebanon to be part of the American and Israeli project in the region," he added.

The participants chanted slogans in support of Hezbollah and denouncing the American policy in Lebanon, in addition to denouncing Israel.

Tension and scuffles also erupted between the army and the protesters.