The city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon and other cities witnessed protests yesterday to condemn the economic crisis in the country, as protesters at night smashed the facades of some banks in Tripoli, and clashed with members of the army who used tear gas, which resulted in the injury of six people.

Reuters news agency quoted an eyewitness that the façades of several banks were destroyed, and that at least one bank was set on fire when protests over the deteriorating living conditions turned violent in the city of Tripoli.

The Lebanese army said in a statement that those who called it the infiltrators caused riots and were exposed to public and private property, adding that a military vehicle was targeted by a Molotov cocktail, and a hand grenade was thrown at a military patrol, causing minor injuries to the military.

A march and clashes And
the street marched in Tripoli, and the demonstrators tried to reach the house of one of the deputies, but the army prevented them, which led to confrontations, according to the French Press Agency correspondent. The army called on peaceful protesters to leave the streets immediately.

The Association of Banks in Lebanon announced the closure of all banks in Tripoli from today, until security is restored, saying that the banks were targeted in "dangerous attacks and riots."

Lebanon's banks have often been the target of protesters' protests in the country since unprecedented popular protests erupted last year to demand the departure of the political class, the fight against corruption and the improvement of the living situation.

Although the economic crisis affects all regions of the country represented in the deterioration of the purchasing value due to the loss of the currency more than half its value, and the rise in prices of basic commodities, Tripoli is one of the most affected areas, as more than half of its population lives below the poverty line.

A protester during a confrontation with members of the army in Zouk, north of Beirut (Reuters)

Beirut, Saida,
and besides Tripoli, other Lebanese regions witnessed protest movements in protest against the living conditions and the rise in commodity prices, as activists cut off the coastal road between Beirut and Tripoli for some time, and a number of activists in the movement protested in Beirut after the dollar exchange rate against the lira recorded unprecedented levels, It has exceeded the threshold of 4200 pounds for one dollar to continue the lira its record losses, as it lost more than half its value.

The National Media Agency reported that protesters threw rocks and firecrackers towards the central bank branch in the southern city of Sidon.

It is noteworthy that Lebanon is experiencing an economic crisis, which is the worst since the Civil War (1975-1990), and it was exacerbated with the imposition of isolation measures to try to contain the outbreak of the new Corona virus (Covid-19).