Calgarians rally in support of Lebanon as conflict escalates in the region

Calgarians gathered for a rally on Sunday in support of the people of Lebanon as conflict between Israel and Hezbollah continues to escalate in the region.

Calgarians gathered for a rally on Sunday in support of the people of Lebanon as conflict between Israel and Hezbollah continues to escalate in the region.

The group gathered at Calgary City Hall on Sunday afternoon to stand in solidarity with Lebanon and all people experiencing violence in the Middle East.

A wave of Israeli airstrikes across large parts of Lebanon has killed at least 1,030 people — including 156 women and 87 children — in less than two weeks, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.

"Because we need peace in that region, we need harmony and we need security for everybody," said Mahmoud Mourra, one of the organizers of the United for Lebanon event.

"The Lebanese community is angry, all over the world. The Lebanese people aren't happy about what's going on."

Lebanon-based Hezbollah, which Canada considers a terrorist organization, started firing rockets on Israel in support of Gaza on Oct. 8, a day after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing some 1,200 people and abducting another 250.

Israel has vowed to step up pressure on Hezbollah until it halts its attacks, which have displaced tens of thousands of Israelis from communities near the Lebanese border.