Policy Grievances

Lebanon enters sixth day of protests as army opens roads

Protesters began gathering in Riad Al Solh Square in Beirut on Tuesday morning as nationwide demonstrations in Lebanon continued for the sixth day.

The Lebanese army opened several highways and issued orders banning road blockades in the country, as protesters arrive on foot the morning after Hezbollah and Amal supporters on motorbikes tried to disrupt the protests in the first signs of clashes. They were pushed back by the Lebanese army, which has promised to protect protesters.

Critical fifth day of anti-government protests begins

Already by 9 a.m., protesters began to trickle into Beirut’s Riad al-Solh and Martyrs' squares, the epicenter of the last four days’ protest, holding up anti-government banners and waving the Lebanese flag.Roads were blocked by burning tires, garbage cans and material from construction sites in Beirut’s Downtown, Zouk Mosbeh and the Bekaa Valley, among other areas.

Jubilant yet defiant third day of mass protests

Following the night of a violent crackdown by security forces on protesters, Lebanese people returned to Downtown Beirut and multiple locations across the country Saturday. Protesters have been on the streets since Thursday, calling on the government to resign and condemning its proposals to impose taxes on citizens already suffering from the country’s dire economic situation.

Fourth day of protest bring together hundreds of thousands nation-wide

Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese protesters of all ages flooded major cities and towns nationwide on Sunday demanding an end to corruption and the rule of the country’s political elite. Each hour brought hundreds more people to the streets for the largest anti-government protests yet. In Tripoli and Batroun, in north Lebanon; Tyre, in south Lebanon; Deir al-Qamar, in Mount Lebanon, and many other towns, thousands turned out for the demonstrations.

Lebanese protest dire economy for second day

Protests were held across Lebanon for a second straight day Friday against the country’s dire economic conditions and tax hike proposals by the government. Most of the main highways and roads across the country were again blocked by burning tires and protesters. The main roads and highways in the eastern Bekaa Valley, the northern towns of Jounieh, Jbeil, Zouk Mikael and Batroun, as well as the southern town of Nabatieh were blocked by burning tires. Highways connecting northern, eastern and southern cities and towns to the capital were also mostly closed.

Protests erupt nation-wide over new taxes

From Tripoli to Tyre and Baalbeck to Beirut, thousands of Lebanese took to the streets Thursday night, forcing the government to backtrack on an unpopular tax it had approved just a day earlier on internet-based phone calls over services like WhatsApp. Protesters blocked main roads across Lebanon with burning tyres. Several roads in Beirut were also cut with protesters igniting garbage bins, wood and other materials. Skirmishes took place between protesters and riot police blocking the road to the Serial, in which at least two protesters were injured.

Communist Party protests economic situation

Dozens of members of the Lebanese Communist Party held a demonstration beginning outside the Association of Banks in Lebanon Sunday to protest the country’s deteriorating economic situation. Having begun at ABL's headquarters at the entrance to Beirut's Gemmayze district, the protesters marched to Riad al-Solh Square and then to the Lebanese Central Bank. Riot police and Lebanese Army soldiers deployed to the protest and formed a line blocking the entrance to the association's building.

Second Sunday protests of dire economy

Several hundred people gathered in Downtown Beirut to protest against Lebanon’s worsening economic and living conditions for a second consecutive Sunday. Recent events have brought the country’s precarious financial situation to the forefront of public concern. After expanding by just a quarter of a percent in 2018, the economy has not grown in 2019.The protesters gathered in Martyrs’ Square, moved to Riad al-Solh square and then stood outside the Grand Serail. Riot police guarded the government’s headquarters.

Veterans block VAT building entrances in protest

Veterans blocked the entrances of the Finance Ministry’s VAT building protesting austerity measures imposed on them in the 2019 budget and delays to payments for new retirees. Retired Brig. Gen. Sami al-Rammah called on the Finance Ministry to pay delayed “retirement benefits and school aid” to the veterans.The veterans held a series of protests against deductions to their pensions in the 2019 state budget before it was endorsed by Parliament in July.

Protesters block road facing Ghaziye junction with burning tires

A number of angry yung protesters cut off the southern highway at the Ghaziye junction, facing Al-Amelieh cooperative, with flaming tires, in protest of the deteriorating economic and financial situation.

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