Day 1 of the opposition escalation

5 Deaths.
More than 100 wounded.

Is it worth it?

Update: Roads Status

The Lebanese Army has been working on opening the highway in Nahr El Mot, in both direction to and from Beirut, while until this hour they still aren't letting cars passing, not before they make sure it is safe. The Lebanese Army received orders for this job around 2pm.

More roads in Keserwan have been opened. While in Jbeil, proud protestors took pictures of themselves throwing a tire into the already burning tires.

The Lebanese opposition still insists that today's strike was only peaceful and civil, and not only till the Pro-Government supporters and the Lebanese Forces have come problems started.

Until this hour, no word from Nasrallah about the situation and today's events.

In Batroun, clashes occured between Lebanese Forces supporters and Marada supporters, while one of the latter shot another Lebanese Forces supporter who is seriously injured. Until now, the Army was able to break the two groups, however the road is still closed.

Until now, more than 15 persons got injured in today's clashes, from both groups.

The Airport is still blocked, no aerial movement, few people were able to get out of the airport walking, those who arrived to Lebanon today are stuck inside, few airport workers were able to arrive to the airport, and until now, the road to the airport is still closed.

Photos & Updates of today`s Escalation and Smog

Dear Reader,

This album of today's photos will keep being updated as soon as I see anything new.

L

p.s. Newest photos taken in the Horizon of Dekwaneh, I am pretty sure near Dallas Gas Station.



This one is in the Industrial City in Sid El Bouchrieh (or in the area)



And the rounded building is The Lebanese University, Faculty of Sciences II.


Edited: To view pictures from inside the protests and tire burning, click here.

Update:

• - 10:00am People who are travelling today, are going walking to the airport according to Al-Arabiyyah


• - 10:20am Most Schools and Universities have closed their doors today


• - ~10:30am Military Police is now on the ground, as re-enforcements to the Lebanese Army


• - ~10:30The army has opened the road going to Beirut, but not the one going from Beirut, and people are stuck in their cars immobile.


• - 11:03am In Al Koura, Miryata and Zgharta, some gun fire occured against some protestors of Al Marada and FPM (after some provocations) resulting some injured persons who have been moved to a near hospital


• - 11:05am Some arab airlines have reschedule flights going from and to Lebanon, to another day because of the General Strike called upon by the Opposition


• - 11:08am Franjieh described today's protests civilized (isn't he watching the TV?)


• - 11:50am One casualty so far


• - 11:50am Armed Lebanese Forces and Phalange supporters went to the gathering in Nahr el Mot near Jdeideh, resulting with 1 injured from the opposition

Update from Sawt Al Ghad Radio Station

Right now, I am litening to the radio "Sawt Al Ghad", that some assaults have occured in Keserwan while the General Forces did not interfere, and the victims have been taken to Notre Dame of Lebanon hospital. As for Batroun, Shekka and Tripoli, the highway from Batroun to Shekka is closed on both ends (only road), some inside roads in Tripoli have been closed too.

Sleiman Franjieh thinks it's a normal day, and that this step was not what they have wished for, but it needed to be done, and more escalation will occur. He also pointed that the Lebanese Army should provide protection, and only protection from the "naughty" Lebanese Forces political party.

Franjieh continued, that if the government doesn't comply, the protest today will continue to more days.

In Matn, Public Schools and Universities have closed their doors, after some students have shown up, in order to protect their students. Some faculties such as The Sciences and Literature, their student bodies have declared support to the opposition and close the doors.

Zalka is basically closed, roads from Jounieh is closed as protesters have blocked the main entrance to the capital which is Nahr El Kalb.

Near the Lebanese National Museum, apparently many opposition supporters have answered their leaders call and went down to protest in that area.

Between Zgharta and Tripoli, the roads have been blocked due to burning wheels.

In Jbeil, the General Forces have tried to bring down from the protestors enthousiam, however it is not affecting the protestors.