Lebanon’s Protests: Young Man Dies as Tripoli Witnesses Clashes, Riots

By Staff, Agencies

A 26-year-old man died Tuesday of wounds suffered during overnight clashes between protesters and the Lebanese Army in the northern city of Tripoli.

The sister of Fawaz Fouad Samman confirmed in a Facebook post that her brother died from his wounds after being shot with a live bullet the previous evening.

On Monday evening, protesters angered by the increasing exchange rate of the US dollar against the Lebanese Pound, as well as the deteriorating economic and living conditions, resorted to the street to express their dismay. 

According to the Lebanese Army statement, the protests had been infiltrated by members who perpetrated acts of sabotage in the northern capital, which led to clashes with the Army, and the fall of more than thirty wounded among both sides. 

“Army Command warns that it will not tolerate any breach of security and stability or anyone tempted to violate civil peace,” an Army statement issued Tuesday morning said.

Meanwhile, Tripoli is witnessing a state of cautious calm amid the widespread deployment of army units and internal security forces’ elements up and down the city. 

The army elements carried out several raids to arrest security rioters, especially those who burned one of its vehicles, smashed facades of banks, and hurled fire bombs at ATMs.