Tension rose on Sunday afternoon between supporters of the Future Movement and former Minister Ashraf Rifi in the town of Balanet al-Hissa, with attempts to cut off the international highway with burning tires in protest against a planned visit by Rifi to the town as part of his electoral tour, which led to verbal quarrels and stone-throwing among each other.

The road blockage caused a traffic jam along the highway, while Army units intervened immediately to re-open the road and restore calm to the area.