Tensions dominated Abra, Sidon as protestors tried to sweep into the previous zone of Ahmad al-Assir.

Tensions dominated Abra neighborhood on Friday as protestors tried to sweep into the previous security zone of the Salafist cleric Ahmad al-Assir in the Lebanese southern city of Sidon.

Following the Friday prayers at al-Zaatari mosque in central Sidon, a number of worshippers moved to Abra where the Lebanese army officially deployed on Tuesday in an attempt to break up the military siege by force, Al-Manar correspondent reported.

Upon their arrival, the protestors fomented chaos to sweep into the security zone and chanted slogans that praise al-Assir against the army.

The national military, then, fired up into the air to disperse the crowd and prevented them from entering the area the troops conduct military operations of inspection to remove the military remnants of al-Assir.

The Lebanese Army launched on Sunday a wide-scale military operation against the rebellion of the Salafist cleric Ahmad al-Assir who was igniting civil war among the Lebanese people.

The army discovered several tunnels and weapons bunkers inside Assir’s security zone in Abra.