Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah accused his Christian enemies, the Lebanese Forces, of trying to stoke a new civil war in the country.
The accusation was in his first public comments since seven people were killed in armed clashes in Beirut last week.
“The real programme of the Lebanese Forces is civil war that will lead to demographic change,” Mr Nasrallah said.
He said that Thursday's violence represented a “dangerous and critical new stage” for the country.
In a fiery speech lasting about two hours, he took aim at Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, claiming “since he got out of prison, he has been searching for enemies".
Mr Nasrallah was referring to the 11 years Mr Geagea served in jail for crimes committed during the civil war.
Mr Nasrallah claimed his group had 100,000 armed fighters and warned Mr Geagea: “Don't miscalculate. Sit quietly and get your act together.”
He insisted that the Iran-backed group had “never been stronger".
Seven people, all Shiite, were killed in armed clashes on Thursday, after unknown gunmen opened fire on a demonstration being held by Hezbollah and Amal supporters against Tarek Bitar, the judge leading an investigation into the Beirut port blast.
The clashes were the worst violence seen on the streets of Beirut in more than a decade.
Hezbollah and Amal, the country's two most powerful Shiite groups, accused fighters from the Lebanese Forces of opening fire on their supporters, which Mr Nasrallah reinforced in his speech.
The Lebanese Forces have denied the accusations.
Mr Nasrallah repeatedly tried to portray his party as a friend of the country's Christian community.
“We do not represent any threat or danger to you. Rather, the danger to you is Lebanese Forces and its leader,” he said.
He called for a quick investigation into Thursday's violence, adding that “those responsible should be held to account.”
Mr Nasrallah used his last televised speech to publicly rebuke Mr Bitar, prompting the Hezbollah-backed march on Thursday.
Mr Bitar has faced condemnation from much of Lebanon's political class, including Hezbollah, as he called in several high-profile politicians for questioning over the summer.
The criticism appeared to reach new levels when he issued an arrest warrant for Ali Khalil, a former finance minister, after he failed to appear for questioning.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THURSDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 10am:
Lucrezia Stefanini v Elena Rybakina (6)
Aryna Sabalenka (4) v Polona Hercog
Sofia Kenin (1) v Zhaoxuan Yan
Kristina Mladenovic v Garbine Muguruza (5)
Sorana Cirstea v Karolina Pliskova (3)
Jessica Pegula v Elina Svitolina (2)
Court 1
Starting at 10am:
Sara Sorribes Tormo v Nadia Podoroska
Marketa Vondrousova v Su-Wei Hsieh
Elise Mertens (7) v Alize Cornet
Tamara Zidansek v Jennifer Brady (11)
Heather Watson v Jodie Burrage
Vera Zvonareva v Amandine Hesse
Court 2
Starting at 10am:
Arantxa Rus v Xiyu Wang
Maria Kostyuk v Lucie Hradecka
Karolina Muchova v Danka Kovinic
Cori Gauff v Ulrikke Eikeri
Mona Barthel v Anastasia Gasanova
Court 3
Starting at 10am:
Kateryna Bondarenko v Yafan Wang
Aliaksandra Sasnovich v Anna Bondar
Bianca Turati v Yaroslava Shvedova
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
PAKISTAN SQUAD
Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (test captain), Babar Azam (T20 captain), Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imran Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Sohail Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Kashif Bhatti, Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah.
The biog
Name: Sari Al Zubaidi
Occupation: co-founder of Cafe di Rosati
Age: 42
Marital status: single
Favourite drink: drip coffee V60
Favourite destination: Bali, Indonesia
Favourite book: 100 Years of Solitude