Vendors and shops along one of Tripoli city's streets. (Credit: Sandrine Frem)
Two were killed and three others injured in an armed clash on Friday night in the Mina area of Tripoli, northern Lebanon, according to L’Orient Today’s correspondent. The dispute stemmed from a disagreement over electrical generator subscriptions.
The injured were transferred to Al-Nini and Islamic hospitals in northern Lebanon. The areas surrounding these hospitals saw heightened security tensions and gunfire. A force from the North Investigation Unit arrived at the scene and arrested four armed individuals in front of the Islamic Hospital for firing shots in the streets while the injured were being transported from the Mina conflict.
Additionally, another altercation occurred Friday night in the Karm al-Qala area of Tripoli between a group of young men. The situation escalated, and one of them was stabbed in the chest. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment, while the assailant fled to an unknown location. The conflict was traced back to prior provocations, according to our correspondent.
The incidents come amid heightened security efforts in Tripoli. Under the direction of the Interior Minister and the Director General of the Internal Security Forces, police have recently implemented a comprehensive security plan for the month of Ramadan. The plan includes roadblocks, as well as the deployment of motorized and foot patrols.
These measures have been taken to "maintain order, limit the phenomenon of illegal weapons, combat theft, reinforce public order and facilitate traffic in the city," according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
Since December 2022, following a series of security incidents, including fatal shootings, former Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi announced a specific security plan for northern Lebanon.
Police patrols were deployed in the streets for surveillance and control purposes. However, this plan has not prevented numerous incidents from occurring in Tripoli.
Reporting contributed by Michel Hallak.
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