Lebanon: US envoy faces backlash after telling journalists to ‘act civilised’

A senior US diplomat, Tom Barrack, sparked outrage in Lebanon after telling journalists to “act civilised” and not “animalistic” during a press conference. The comments drew immediate condemnation from Lebanese media organizations, journalist unions, and the Lebanese Presidency. Multiple groups demanded a public apology, with some threatening a media boycott of the envoy's future visits. The incident was characterized by some commentators as displaying “colonial arrogance” and resulted in the diplomat cutting short a planned visit to southern Lebanon amid protests.