Gunfire killed a soldier on Tuesday in Lebanon’s main northern city of Tripoli, where clashes often break out between gunmen and troops.

Gunfire killed a soldier on Tuesday in Lebanon's main northern city of Tripoli, where clashes often break out between gunmen and troops, the Lebanese army said.

"Around 4:00 am local time (0100 GMT), an army post in Tripoli came under fire by gunmen, which led to the martyrdom of one soldier," the Lebanese military said in a statement.

"The soldiers at the post opened fire in response, and pursued the attackers," it added.

Security sources said other soldiers were wounded in the attack and that the army deployed heavily in the area in response.

Clashes have repeatedly broken out in Tripoli, often between extremist gunmen in the Bab el-Tabbeneh district and their Alawite neighbors in Jabal Mohsen.

Lebanese troops in Tripoli have also come under repeated attack.