Lebanon”s military court on Thursday started trying three officers and 65 soldiers from the Lebanese Armed Forces over their alleged roles in the deaths of seven civilians during an anti-government protest in a Beirut suburb last January. Eight of the 65 soldiers have been in custody since the incident after being accused of having a direct role in the deaths of the seven civilians.
The three officers and their troops were part of an LAF force which was sent to the Shiyyah-Mar Mikhael area in order to contain protests that included the burning of tires and blocking roads.
Most of the protesters were supports of Hizbullah and the Amal Movement.
Judicial sources told The Daily Star that investigations were still under way to determine the owner of a rifle that was used to kill Amal member Ahmad Hamza.
Hamza was shot down during the protest by an unidentified assailant.