Clashes erupted overnight on Saturday between the army and masked gunmen in the northern city of Tripoli, reported the National News Agency on Sunday.

It said that fierce fighting broke out when gunmen opened fire at army positions on Syria Street, the Starco, Brad al-Bisar, al-Ghoraba, Talaat al-Omari, and al-Qobbeh areas.

The army responded to the sources of the fire and clashes soon ensued.

Soldiers pursued the gunmen throughout the city.

In addition, NNA said that an explosives belt was detonated against an army patrol as it was leaving its station at the Hariri project area at Talaat al-Omari.

One soldier was wounded in the attack.

Soon after the development, the army blocked a number of roads leading to the areas that witnessed unrest to preserve the residents' safety.

A man identified as Jawad Muzhir Sabbagh was critically wounded in the clashes, reported NNA.

The fighting has since subsided, but tensions remain high in Tripoli, continued the new agency.

Tripoli had witnessed numerous rounds of clashes, between local gunmen, linked to the conflict in Syria.

The army implemented in April a security plan aimed at cracking down on the gunmen.

It has arrested a number of suspects, but many remain at large.

A similar plan was adopted in the eastern Bekaa region.