Lebanon: Saboteur Convoys Terrorize Tripoli

A demonstrator is seen near a bank on fire during unrest, as an economic crisis brings demonstrations back onto the streets in Tripoli, Lebanon April 28, 2020. REUTERS/Omar Ibrahim
A demonstrator is seen near a bank on fire during unrest, as an economic crisis brings demonstrations back onto the streets in Tripoli, Lebanon April 28, 2020. REUTERS/Omar Ibrahim
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Lebanon: Saboteur Convoys Terrorize Tripoli

A demonstrator is seen near a bank on fire during unrest, as an economic crisis brings demonstrations back onto the streets in Tripoli, Lebanon April 28, 2020. REUTERS/Omar Ibrahim
A demonstrator is seen near a bank on fire during unrest, as an economic crisis brings demonstrations back onto the streets in Tripoli, Lebanon April 28, 2020. REUTERS/Omar Ibrahim

When you pass through the main Boulevard Street in Lebanon's Tripoli, down from Al-Nour Square towards Al-Tal in the city center, you notice that most of the shops were either burned, destroyed or have permanently closed their doors.

Riding motorcycles, groups of young men invaded the main streets of Tripoli over the past few days, attacking a number of restaurants on Monday evening and intimidating the clients, while a number of bank branches were burned, including the Arab Bank and BLOM.

Nasser Shaarani, the owner of a well-known shawarma restaurant, recounted that nearly 500 people came for the third night in a row on motorbikes, “shouting and intimidating people, ordering us to shut down, taking what is on the tables, and not caring about the presence of families or women.”

“This intimidation is no longer permitted, and we will not be silent if these actions are repeated,” he warned.

Shaarani also said that he contacted the Lebanese army and security forces, and received a promise that the appropriate measures would be taken.

“Many saboteurs were arrested, while the search for the rest is still ongoing,” he added.

While residents disagree about the parties behind these groups, and accuse different sides, there is an overwhelming consensus that money is paid to young people to carry out sabotage missions, saying that $6 is given to the owner of the bike and $5 to the person sitting behind him.



Israel Strikes Beirut's Southern Suburbs once Again

Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
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Israel Strikes Beirut's Southern Suburbs once Again

Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut’s Haret Hreik area in the southern suburbs again on Friday after evacuation warnings were issued to residents prior to the attacks by an Israeli spokesman.
The Israeli army issued evacuation orders to residents in the areas of al-Hadath and Haret Hreik, as well as several villages in Lebanon’s south requesting they move to north of Awwali River.
When it issues such a warning, Israel cites alleged presence of Hezbollah fighters or infrastructure in civilian areas as a justification for its airstrikes.
Avichay Adraee, spokesperson for the Israeli army, issued an evacuation warning to the residents of the towns of Tayba, Aadchit, Qusayr, and Deir Seryan, as well as to the residents of the towns of Burj al-Shamali and Maashuq in southern Lebanon.
He also requested the evacuation of residents from specific buildings in Hadath and Haret Hreik in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,583 people and wounded 15,244 in Lebanon since October 2023, with 25 fatalities reported on Wednesday, the Lebanese health ministry said on Thursday.