After sectarian violence left nine people killed and over 50 others injured in northern Lebanon, Lebanese Army was deployed at several parts of the northern port city of Tripoli on Tuesday morning.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the army said its presence in Tripoli was to preserve stability and protect civilians, not to " clash with them."

"Security is a national need... Chaos would not be in the interests of anyone," said the statement.

At the Sunni Bab Tebbaneh and the mostly Alawite Jabal Mohsen neighbourhood in Tripoli, battles between which took place since Saturday on the backdrop of a Lebanese citizen called Shadi Al Mawlawi being arrested due to suspected contacts with a terrorist group, many residents who had fled returned Tuesday to check up their houses.

Across the city, electrical network damaged in the fighting is being repaired; streets filled with debris and roadblocks are being cleared and cleaned. In the Syria Street, remains of burned cars are scattered around, with torn parts still emitting black smokes.

While children were busy collecting empty bullet cartridges in the hope of selling them, some youths picked up unexploded hand grenades and rocket propelled grenades to hand over to the army.

Most residents share the feeling that security situation has deteriorated and that living conditions become unbearable, showing disgust to repeated gun battles.

"We are fed up with this situation. All what we are asking for is security and stability," 40-year-old Mohammad Adel, owner of a shoe shop, told Xinhua. "We have suffered a lot. We want an end to the fighting and that our city does not turn into a theater for regional conflicts."

"Why not taking a firm hand to establish security in the city?" said Saeed el Ali, 43. "I have a family and I want to live in peace."

Mohammad Sobh, 50, said his apartment has been burnt three times over the past four years. Each time, the government would offer him financial help to restore the apartment. But "if we get killed, or any of our children injured, who would compensate us?"