Armenian communities in the Levant commemorated the 110th anniversary of the Armenian genocide on Thursday.
Around 1.5 million Armenians were systematically killed during the final years of the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1917.
Remembrance ceremonies were held in both Lebanon and Syria – both home to sizeable Armenian communities established after they settled there as refugees, following massacres which began in the late 1800s and culminated in a genocide which happened after the outbreak of the First World War.
In Beirut, hundreds gathered in the capital’s Martyrs Square to remember those killed during the massacres. The country’s three main Armenian political parties laid flower wreaths and gave several speeches in front of political and religious leaders in the square.
"We, the children and grandchildren of the survivors of the genocide, have come today once again to commemorate the eternal memory of our martyrs and condemn the crime planned and executed by the Ottoman Empire against our people during World War I," the parties said in an official statement, according to Lebanese outlet Annahar.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun also said in a statement: "The 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide is not merely a remembrance of a painful historical event, but rather a confirmation of the importance of adhering to the principles of justice, human rights, and human dignity, and a reminder to the world of the need to stand against all forms of violence, extremism, and exclusion.
"Therefore, Lebanon today renews its firm and supportive stance towards the Armenian people in their peaceful struggle to achieve these principles."
In Syria, members of the community gathered in the northeastern town of Qamishli to remember the events of that period. Religious leaders performed prayers, while children held flame torches and portraits of some of those killed during the massacres between 1915 and 1917.
Children also had the number 110 painted on their cheeks in the colours of the Armenian flag of blue, orange and red.
One man, Hagop Donabidian, said: "Our message to the international community is that we thank all countries who have recognised the genocide of the Armenian people. We also urge that other countries who do not currently acknowledge the genocide to do so."
The 24th April is the official Armenian genocide commemoration date, and is a public holiday in Armenia. Both Syria and Lebanon formally recognise the genocide, as well as 32 other countries.
Hundreds of Armenian intellectuals were arrested and deported from modern-day Istanbul on 23 April 1915, which was followed by the deportation of tens of thousands of Armenians en masse from eastern Anatolia to the Syrian desert, and elsewhere, where they either killed or died of dehydration, starvation and diseases.
Scholars and historians have provided different reasons behind the killing of Armenians, including the rise of Turkish nationalism, resentment over their economic status and accusations of being "saboteurs" and siding with Russia, amid a series of Ottoman-Russian wars during those years.
Turkey, a major supporter of the current Syrian authorities, has strongly rejected accusations that the Ottoman Empire carried out the genocide, instead acknowledging that 300,000 Armenians died during that period, but arguing that Turks were also killed.