Retired members of the security forces launched a protest on Wednesday in downtown Beirut. They set fire to tires and blocked the road in the Saifi area, in front of the central headquarters of the Kataeb Party, under the watch of the Lebanese Army.
Thick smoke rose over the area, causing severe traffic congestion.
The protest spread to several regions across the country. In Beirut, on the Ring Bridge, retired military personnel also burned tires, leading to road closures and significant disruptions to traffic.
In Riad El-Solh Square, protesters attempted to remove the barbed wire barriers surrounding the Grand Serail. Some climbed onto Civil Defense vehicles, while others set fire to nearby vegetation, despite repeated calls for calm from Generals Georges Nader and Chamel Roukoz.
General Nader made a public appeal, urging protesters to keep their distance from the armed forces and avoid any confrontation. He emphasized that no clashes should occur for any reason and highlighted the importance of keeping roads open for citizens.
He also called on demonstrators to respect the statement issued by the Association of Retired Military Personnel, which called for peaceful demonstrations and rejected disorder.
Parliamentary committee sessions, including those of the Finance and Budget Committee and the Media and Telecommunications Committee, were postponed due to the roadblocks.
In Tripoli, the protest continued on Wednesday morning, with retired soldiers blocking access to a branch of the Banque du Liban and closing the Palma highway by setting tires on fire.
This protest is part of a series of escalating actions coordinated during a consultative meeting held on Tuesday in the southern town of Bourj Rahal, at the invitation of the Association of Veterans.
The meeting began with a moment of silence in memory of the martyrs, followed by the Lebanese national anthem and a series of speeches highlighting the importance of Wednesday's protest. Speakers emphasized the unity of retired personnel in confronting the authorities.
They also welcomed the recent elections within the Association, which resulted in the election of General Chamel Roukoz as president. They said the Association has evolved from a symbolic entity into an active body leading a protest movement on the ground for the first time. Attendees were encouraged to join the Association and support its efforts.
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