Sniping continued between Tripoli’s Bab el-Tebbaneh and Jabal
Mohsen on Wednesday evening as shells were fired at the areas of Baal al-Darawich and al-Mallouleh
despite the ceasefire agreement that was expected to come into effect by 5:30
pm.
Two people were killed and 12 were injured with 3 reported to
being in a critical condition in Jabal Mohsen. In Bab el-Tebbaneh, many were
injured in a gunfire exchange between Bab el-Tebbaneh and Jabal Mohsen and a
military vehicle was also shot by a sniper. No injuries were reported among the
military men in the latest incident.
LAF units began their deployment along the line separating Bab
el-Tebbaneh and Jabal Mohsen with dozens of armored vehicles entering Tripoli’s
Syria Street amid residents’ cheers and the sound of sporadic gunfire and
explosions.
A consensus had been reached for a ceasefire and the
reinforcement of LAF troops in Bab el-Tebbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, effective as of
5:30 pm Wednesday.The agreement was forged during a meeting held at MP Mohammad
Kabbara’s home in Tripoli and attended by a number of Bab el-Tebbaneh MPs and
security leaders.
Following the meeting, Kabbara said that the LAF Command was asked to redeploy
its troops in Tripoli’s hot spot, in order to implement the ceasefire agreement
and respond to the sources of gunfire.
Kabbara stressed that Tripoli’s residents security lies within the LAF and
security forces that are supposed to assume their role by protecting people and
preserving the city’s stability.
Exclusive sources confirmed to LBCI that the participants in Kabbara’s meeting
called for the presence of PM Mikati, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and
Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn in forging a solution should the ceasefire not go
into effect.
Some groups, however, did not agree with the agreement and the ceasefire -
other sources confirmed.
This as a cautious calm prevails over Tripoli’s Bab el Tebbaneh and Jabal
Mohsen, breached by sporadic gunfire and sniper operations.
The latest victim was identified as A.Masri from Bab el-Tabbaneh, who succumbed
to his wounds this morning, raising the casualties’ toll to 10 deaths and 103
injuries including 10 soldiers.
In the afternoon, child Marwan al-Nabouch was slightly injured and rushed to
Tripoli’s Islamic Charitable Hospital. Citizen Othman Saada was also
transferred to the hospital for injuries sustained via snipers.
The Tripoli – Akkar road is still blocked due to the violence while the LAF is
patrolling the Abou Ali roundabout.
Bab el-Tebbaneh’s residents called on the Energy Minister via LBCI to restore
electricity to the area.
In this regard, Tripoli’s Mayor Nader al-Ghazal told LBCI that the city of
Tripoli has nothing to do with the ongoing incidents, calling on all concerned
authorities to "contain this madness".
"Tripoli should stop being used as a mailbox", he said.
LAF Command
In a statement, the LAF Command announced that its troops are implementing a
comprehensive military plan to prevent Tripoli from becoming a playground for
regional conflict, revealing its intention to launch direct dialogue with field
troops in Tripoli to “contain the strife and deplete the conflict”.
To read the full statement please click on this
link
International Reactions
For its part, Paris strongly condemned the fierce clashes between Bab
el-Tebbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, adding that it is following up on the latest
security developments in Lebanon. Paris voiced its concern over the frequency
of such incidents in Lebanon, stressing that “Lebanon must not import a
conflict it has nothing to do with."
For the full LBCI report, watch the video above.