Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Saturday launched a vehement attack on Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in connection with the deadly Tayyouneh clashes, while criticizing Hizbullah and Amal over the “provocations” of their supporters in Ain el-Remmaneh.

The spokesman for relatives of those killed in last year's Beirut port blast quit on Saturday, following fears he had been intimidated into urging the dismissal of the lead investigator in the case.

Hizbullah and allies have accused Judge Tarek Bitar of political bias in his probe into the August 4, 2020 explosion that killed more than 210 people.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has described Thursday’s deadly clashes in the Tayyouneh-Ain al-Remmaneh-Shiyyah area an an attempt by Hizbullah to stage a “mini” May 7-like armed campaign against “Christians” with the objective of halting the probe into the Beirut port blast.

Saudi Arabia has called on Lebanon to make long-term changes after a sectarian flare-up, saying the country's leadership has failed to address structural problems.

Hizbullah Executive Council head Sayyed Hashem Safieddine on Friday accused the rival Lebanese Forces party of carrying out “a deliberate and flagrant massacre” in a “calculated and premeditated ambush targeted against civilians.”

Former Prime Ministers Fouad Saniora, Saad Hariri and Tammam Salam condemned Friday, in a joint statement, the Tayyouneh clashes and demanded Parliament to "lift immunities" in the port blast case.

They slammed those who "instead of directing all efforts to reforms, are still trying to distract the Lebanese from their tragedies, push them back into their sectarian squares, stir up civil strife, and bring back memories and nightmares of civil war.”

The European Union condemned Friday "the use of violence" duting the demonstration against the judge leading the investigation into the Beirut Port blast.

The EU expressed, in a statement, its condolences to the families of the victims and called for "utmost restraint to avoid further senseless loss of life."

Naval Forces and Marine Commandos found the wreckage of a civilian training plane and the bodies of the two victims who were on board, the Army said Friday.

The army added, in a statement, that the plane had crashed 1200 meters from the beach of Halat, 30 meters deep.

The street violence in and around Tayyouneh on Thursday was reminiscent of the 1975-1990 civil war that involved several of the same players. Who exactly was involved in Thursday's flare-up?

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland met with Lebanese leaders on Thursday, on a visit whose schedule was thrown off by the deadly Tayyouneh clashes -- the most dangerous round of sectarian fighting that the country has witnessed since 2008.

Speaking at a press conference that followed her meetings with the country’s leaders, Nuland offered condolences on behalf of the American people for “the tragic loss of life” in the clashes.