14 March 2005 Beirut protests

The Beirut protests on 14 March 2005 were a large-scale demonstration by Lebanese citizens demanding the end of Syrian military presence in Lebanon and calling for national sovereignty. Sparked by the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, many believed Syria was involved. The protests involved hundreds of thousands of people advocating for independence, political reform, and justice. Their efforts contributed to the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon later that year and marked a turning point toward greater Lebanese sovereignty and political change.