Hundreds of protesters storm Saudi TV channel in Iraq for labelling Hamas fighters as ‘terrorists’

Hundreds of protesters stormed and vandalised the offices of a Saudi television network in Baghdad on Saturday after it referred to Hamas fighters as "terrorists" during a broadcast.

According to AFP, the channel aired a report repeatedly labelling members of the Palestinian resistance group as “terrorists.”

The segment also described fighters from Hezbollah and the Iraqi Mobilisation Forces in similar terms.

Around 400 to 500 demonstrators attacked the MBC channel offices early Saturday morning.

Anonymous sources from the Iraqi interior ministry told AFP that the protesters “wrecked the electronic equipment, the computers, and set fire to a part of the building.”

However, police soon regained control, dispersing the crowd and extinguishing the fire.

BREAKING | Iraqi protesters storm the headquarters of Saudi Arabia's MBC TV channel in Baghdad after it released a video report referring to assassinated Palestinian resistance leaders and other regional resistance leaders as "terrorists." pic.twitter.com/oJwoqJP1G1

— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) October 19, 2024

Several Western countries, including the US, have designated Hamas, Hezbollah, and pro-Iranian armed groups as terrorist organisations.

However, many Muslim countries regard these fighters as heroes opposing Western imperialism.

Israel and the US have been the staunchest opponents of such groups.

US President Joe Biden described the death of Hamas political chief Yahya Sinwar on Thursday as “a good day for Israel, the United States, and the world.”

Since October 7, Israel has killed several key figures from Hamas and Hezbollah, along with thousands of civilians in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, through relentless bombardments in residential areas on the pretext of targeting its enemies.