Turkish Embassy thanks Lebanese for lira support

The Turkish Embassy in Lebanon on Wednesday thanked the Lebanese people for launching solidarity campaigns for the Turkish lira, which has recently lost ground against the dollar amid a raft of newly-imposed U.S. sanctions.

“We thank the brotherly and friendly people of Lebanon for launching campaigns…in support of Turkey against the economic attacks the country is facing,” the embassy said in a statement.

Merchants in several Lebanese cities, including capital Beirut, have launched campaigns to support the Turkish economy, offering discounts to customers who make purchases in Turkish lira.

Turkey-U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations since Washington imposed sanctions on Turkey’s interior and justice ministers last week after Ankara refused to release an American pastor who faces terrorism-related charges in Turkey.

Last Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from Turkey.