Retired Armed Forces Protest Salaries Before Cabinet Meeting

On Thursday, law enforcement used tear gas to scatter a group of several hundred demonstrators, predominantly ex-military personnel, who attempted to breach the barrier leading to the Grand Serail in central Beirut.

These former service members convened at Riad al-Solh Square in Beirut to voice their grievances over inadequate pensions and obstructed the routes to the Grand Serail, coinciding with a Cabinet meeting held there.

With protesters trying to block their path, some government officials resorted to walking to the Grand Serail to attend the meeting. The protestors’ chief demand was for their pension issues to be addressed during this gathering.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced that the Cabinet would hold a special meeting on Saturday to deliberate on the demands of the retired soldiers.

During Thursday’s meeting, the interim Cabinet named Maj. Gen. Hassan Aoude as the new army chief of staff and sanctioned the publication of the 2024 state budget in the official Gazette.

Earlier on Tuesday, retirees seeking improved compensation obstructed the Karantina roadway with flaming tires, expressing their struggle for a dignified existence.

Currently, all government workers, including military personnel, receive their wages in Lebanese pounds, which have significantly depreciated in value. This depreciation has rendered their incomes insufficient for basic living costs, amidst a shift by grocery stores and other businesses to dollar-based pricing.