Five soldiers were injured in a grenade attack in Tripoli‘s Jabal Mohsen area in northern Lebanon, the Lebanese Army said on Friday.
The attack came after the Lebanese Army called in reinforcements to the area, where people had blocked roads in protest of the soaring prices, the fuel shortage, and the deterioration of economic and social conditions.
As soldiers tried to open one of the blocked roads, protesters clashed with them, prompting the soldiers to open fire in the air to disperse the crowds.
The atmosphere remains tense in the Jabal Mohsen area where injuries have been reported on both sides.
The Army has confirmed 10 injuries among its ranks caused by rocks thrown by protesters, in addition to the 5 caused by the grenade attack.
On the other hand, 19 injured protesters have been transported to nearby hospitals by five teams of the Lebanese Red Cross so far, some due to the reported use of rubber bullets by soldiers.
The violence comes a day after Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s resignation, upon which the Lebanese pound plummeted to new lows amid dire living conditions.
Support our independent media - contribute today! Become a Patron!