Lebanon: Shots fired at defense minister's car amid rising instability

Adam Lucente

A vehicle displays the flags of Iran and the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah as it moves in a funerary procession for a fallen fighter in Beirut's predominantly-Shiite Muslim southern suburb, on August 10, 2023 after he was killed the previous day amidst clashes between Hezbollah and residents of the Christian town of Kahale in Mount Lebanon. The Lebanese army said on August 10 that it had seized munitions from a Hezbollah truck that overturned near Beirut, leading to deadly clashes between Christian res — A vehicle displays the flags of Iran and the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah as it moves in a funerary procession for a fallen fighter in Beirut's predominantly Shiite Muslim southern suburb, on Aug. 10, 2023. — ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images

Lebanese Defense Minister Maurice Slim’s vehicle was shot at in Beirut on Thursday in yet another sign of rising tensions in Lebanon in the last 48 hours.

Slim’s office said that his vehicle was hit by two bullets but that he is “fine,” Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported.

Further details were not immediately available. Local media outlets reported that the incident occurred in the Jisr El Basha area of Beirut.

The shooting comes amid rising instability in Lebanon. On Wednesday, two people were killed when a truck carrying ammunition for Hezbollah overturned.

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Lebanon: Shots fired at defense minister's car amid rising instability

The incident followed deadly clashes after a Hezbollah vehicle carrying ammunition overturned in a Christian village.

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