Dozens of people were injured in violent confrontations that erupted between supporters of Hezbollah and the Amal movement, and the security forces in central Beirut, against the background of a videotape deemed insulting to the Shiite community.
In detail, dozens of youths supporters of the Shiite parties and opponents of the demonstrators against the political class, at midnight on Monday, attacked the empty sit-in squares in downtown Beirut, and confrontations erupted soon, after security forces and elements of the Lebanese army confronted them.
According to the civil defense, the youths, who came on foot or on motorcycles, threw security forces with stones and firecrackers, and set at least three cars on fire, and in part of a building under construction. The security forces responded by throwing dozens of tear gas towards them.
The hit-and-run operations between the two sides continued for several hours, in the vicinity of downtown Beirut, before things returned and calm down around four in the morning.
A cameraman for "Agence France Presse" reported that there were injuries among the security forces, as a result of stone throwing, and that some people suffocated, as a result of the thick smoke coming from the tear gas.
The Lebanese Civil Defense announced in a tweet that, after calm had returned, its members treated 43 citizens, and 23 wounded people were transferred to the region's hospitals, without specifying whether they were angry or military youths.
This is not the first time that supporters of Hezbollah and the Amal movement have attacked the demonstration squares, which are empty at night from demonstrators against the political class, amid the spread of security forces.
Usually, these demonstrators attack against the background of slogans against their leaders, but this time it came in response to a video circulated on social media, the date of its filming is unknown, a young man, who is said to be outside the country, is descended from the city of Tripoli (north), who is insulted For Shi’ite shrines.
In the city of Sidon in the south, some schools closed their doors yesterday to protest against the assault of unknown mobs and the assault of several of the protestors' camps in the city's square.
And unknown persons, about one and a half after midnight Monday, according to what the National Information Agency announced, the destruction of a number of tents in the square of Elia in the city of Sidon, and assaulted a number of those present at the place.
And denounced the "Harak of Sidon" in a statement, "breaking the tents and attacking those in it", calling for a general strike in the city of Sidon and the neighborhood, wishing the security forces "to protect the protestors in the squares."
At night, a number of youths smashed and vandalized the entrance to the South Lebanon Water Corporation, while others broke into and destroyed public property in Sidon.
For its part, the "Amal Movement", headed by Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, denied in a statement, its relationship "with all the problems that occurred in Sidon and the neighborhood."
Activists on social media warned against being drawn into what they described as "sedition", considering that its occurrence only serves the political class.
Since October 17, Lebanon has witnessed unprecedented popular demonstrations, which began against the backdrop of livelihood demands. The movement seemed to cross the sects and regions, insisting on the demand for the departure of the political class.
Under street pressure, Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned on October 29. Political forces have not been able to agree on the nomination of a successor until now, at a time when demonstrators are calling for the formation of a government that includes independents of political parties and the current authority.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun postponed, for the second time, yesterday, the second time, the date of parliamentary consultations to name a new head of government, which reflects the depth of the political crisis in a country suffering economic and financial collapse.
The agreement of the political forces to nominate a new head of government does not mean that their birth will be easy, as the process often takes several months, due to the dispute over the sharing of quotas, especially with the political forces not agreeing mainly on the form of the next government, which the demonstrators want from specialists independent of political parties. And the current power.