LAF dismantle explosives found in Assir's security complex

    
Lebanese Armed Forces continued on Tuesday their patrols in the complex of Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir's Bilal bin Rabbah mosque in Abra.      In this regard the LAF soldiers prevented residents of Sidon from entering their homes, and detonated a 4 KG explosive inside the complex as well as other grenades placed on diesel tanks.                             

Inspection tour:                     

Army Commander General Jean Kahwagi, along with the Chief Commander of the Rangers Regiment Brigadier General Chamel Roukoz inspected the Army units deployed in Sidon’s Abra region.             

In turn, the Internal Security Forces’ acting Director General Brigadier General Roger Salem visited Sidon’s governmental Serail whereby he chaired a security meeting; announcing that ISF members will be cooperating with LAF soldiers to carry out patrols in the aforementioned region.                                             
Judge Sakr Sakr:              

The Government’s Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Sakr Sakr tasked the LAF Intelligence Directorate with conducting preliminary investigations into the Abra incident, and interrogating those arrested, who reached according to LBCI’s sources, 60 in number.                 

Meanwhile, sources reported that Ahmad Hariri, an official at Assir's media office, former singer Fadel Shaker, and Sheikh Assir along with his family left the Bilal bin Rabbah mosque lat night as the army approached the mosque.                              

Clashes had raged between LAF soldiers and supporters of Sheikh Assir in Sidon, leaving at least 16 soldiers killed and more than 70 others wounded.      

The LAF martyrs were identified as First Sergeant Toni Youssef Hazouri, Sergeant Omar Haitham Youssef, Corporal Abdel Karim Qabalan Teaimeh, Soldiers Johnny Antoine Nicolas, Wassim Saleh Hamdan, Bilal Abdallah Idriss.    

In contrast, 35 of Assir's partisans were also reported killed in Sidon’s clashes. The Lebanese Red Cross announced that 78 injured were transported out of Abra.             

Security meeting:           

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel chaired a security meeting for the security sub-council in Sidon whereby he called on security apparatuses “to maintain the success of the LAF in the coastal city”.       

On another note, Minister Charbel pointed out that calm had prevailed in Tripoli as security forces deployed throughout all of its regions.                  

Shortly after, Minister Charbel visited the complex of Sheikh Ahmad Assir in Abra and stressed that only LAF soldiers participated in the attack against the latter’s supporters.                   

Damage survey:     

On another note, Lebanese President Michel Sleiman contacted Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and discussed with him the post-military operation in Abra.         

Sleiman called for surveying the damages in the region, paving the way for residents to return to their homes and maintain stability in the region.