Conflict Incident Report

Lebanon's commuters were struck in heavy traffic as truck drivers blocked vital highways across the country on their third day of protests against the closure of rock quarries and crushers.

Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk at 11:00 a.m. warned truckers of "having to use force" if the roads were not opened in an hour.

Traffic began easing by 12:30 p.m. However, truckers refused to move their trucks parked on side roads.

Videos surfaced of protesting truck drivers clashing with those stuck in traffic while security forces stood idly by.

One video showed a man smashing car windows with a metal rod after a verbal dispute erupted between them.

Truck drivers denied that these incidents were related to them or their protest.

They also denied causing the traffic gridlock, adding that they had left a lane open for cars to pass through.
Head of the Truck Owners' Union Shafiq al-Qassis announced that a general strike will take place as of 7 a.m. Thursday morning.

He, too, denied that the trucks had blocked the roads.

Frustrated motorists stuck in traffic decried the government's inaction.

They also condemned the truck drivers for blocking major highways.

Several vehicles turned back against traffic on the Khaldeh highway.

Many people are stuck in rush hour traffic on normal days on the vital highway in the morning as people try to reach their schools and offices.

Some drivers preferred to go back home instead of having to get stuck in the traffic.

The frustrated drivers called on authorities to end the chaos on the roads, particularly after disputes erupted with the truckers.

The trucks could be seen standing on the side roads.

Head of the Union and Leagues of Land Transport Bassam Tleis also condemned the roadblocks, calling it an "abuse of citizens."

"The rock quarries are closed because they oppose Lebanon's law, environment, and nature," Machnouk added. "They won't be reopened unless Cabinet makes a new decision."

He also voiced doubt that any political force supports the actions of the truck drivers this morning.

Truck drivers began blocking vital highways and main roads leading to the capital Beirut in the early morning hours.

The Ouzai highway south of Beirut was congested with traffic as truck drivers partially closed off the Safra and Al-Assad highways towards Beirut.

Elsewhere, they blocked the Zahrani highway and the Wadi al-Zaina main road in southern Lebanon.

The busy Dahr al-Baidar highway in eastern Lebanon was closed, as well.

"The roads are blocked because the ministry of interior is preventing truck drivers from working, and stopping rock crushers and quarries from functioning by only allowing trucks to work Wednesdays and Fridays," he was quoted by NNA as saying.