Army Urges Citizens Not to Block Roads, Stage Sit-ins

The Army Command on Monday urged all citizens to “refrain from blocking roads and staging sit-ins,” after protesters took to the streets in several regions on Sunday and Monday to express solidarity with the army over the Arsal incident.

“As the Army Command extends gratitude to all citizens in all Lebanese regions who expressed their wide solidarity and sincere feelings towards the military institution after the latest developments, it urges them to refrain from blocking roads and staging sit-ins or anything that might limit citizens' freedom of movement,” it said in a statement.

Shortly after the army issued its statement, state-run National News Agency reported that a number of young men blocked the Batroun highway with burning tires in both directions, adding that machinegun fire was being heard in the area.

Earlier, protesters blocked the Sarba-Jounieh highway with burning tires “to protest the Arsal incident and express solidarity with the army,” NNA said. The highway was later reopened after the sit-in caused a severe traffic jam in the area.

Protesters also blocked the Tabarja highway in Keserouan and the Furzol road in the Bekaa.

On Sunday, protesters took to the streets in the Bekaa town of Mrayjat as the Dora-Beirut highway was blocked with burning tires.

The deadly clash in Arsal erupted as the army was pursuing a suspect wanted on terrorism charges.

Captain Pierre Bashaalani and First Sergeant Ibrahim Zahraman were killed and several other troops were wounded in the operation. A suspect identified as Khaled Hmayyid was also killed.

Popular anger boiled up after several media outlets published leaked pictures showing troops soaked in blood inside the offices of Arsal Municipality.