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BEIRUT: A US diplomat apologized Thursday for using the word “animalistic” while calling for a gaggle of reporters to quiet down during a press conference in Lebanon earlier this week.

Tom Barrack, who is the US ambassador to Turkiye and envoy to Syria and has also been on a temporary assignment in Lebanon, said he didn’t intend to use the word “in a derogatory manner” but that his comments had been “inappropriate.”

Barrack visited Beirut along with a delegation of US officials on Tuesday to discuss efforts by the Lebanese government to disarm the Hezbollah militant group and implementation of the ceasefire agreement that ended the latest war between Israel and the Hezbollah in November.

At the start of a press conference at the presidential palace, journalists shouted at Barrack to move to the podium after he started speaking from another spot in the room. After taking the podium Barrack told the crowd of journalists to “act civilized, act kind, act tolerant.” He threatened to end the conference early otherwise.

“The moment that this starts becoming chaotic, like animalistic, we’re gone,” said Barrack.

The comment sparked an outcry, with the Lebanese press syndicate calling for an apology and calling for a boycott of Barrack’s visits if none was issued. The Presidential Palace also issued a statement expressing regret for the comments made by “one of our guests” and thanking journalists for their “hard work.”

In an interview with Mario Nawfal, a media personality on the X platform, an excerpt of which was published Thursday, Barrack said, “Animalistic was a word that I didn’t use in a derogatory manner, I was just saying ‘can we calm down, can we find some tolerance and kindness, let’s be civilized.’ But it was inappropriate to do when the media was just doing their job.”

He added, “I should have been more generous with my time and more tolerant myself.”

Barrack’s visit came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces could begin withdrawing from territory they hold in southern Lebanon after the Lebanese government’s decided to disarm Hezbollah. When, how and in what order the Hezbollah disarmament in Israeli withdrawal would take place remain in dispute.

The Israeli army on Thursday launched airstrikes in southern Lebanon that it said were targeting “terrorist infrastructure and a rocket platform” belonging to Hezbollah.

DUBAI: The UN spokesperson on Wednesday called for journalists to be respected a day after controversy erupted in Lebanon over a US diplomat’s remarks.

US Special Envoy Tom Barrack, in a press conference on Tuesday at Baabda Palace south of Beirut, described Lebanese journalists’ behavior as “animalistic.”

He said: “The moment this starts becoming chaotic, like animalistic, we’re gone.”

Responding to the controversy, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said: “I treat all the journalists I deal with, with the utmost respect, and everyone should.”

At the palace press conference, Barrack called on the gathering journalists to “act civilized, act kind, act tolerant, because this is the problem with what’s happening in the region.”

He asked them if they thought it was “economically beneficial” for him and deputy envoy Morgan Ortagus to be there “putting up with this insanity.”

His comments sparked outrage, with journalists and media unions describing them as “humiliating” and “racist.”

Lebanon’s presidency issued a statement that said it “deeply regrets the remark made inadvertently from its podium by one of its guests,” without naming Barrack.

The Syndicate of Lebanese Press Editors demanded an apology from the US envoy, calling his remarks “absolutely unacceptable and highly reprehensible.” It also said it would urge media outlets to boycott his remaining visits to Lebanon if an apology was not issued.

On Wednesday, Barrack canceled a planned visit to the southern town of Khiam and the city of Tyre, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.