REPORT: Tripoli’s residents denounce Sidon attack, express support to Sheikh Assir

Calm prevailed on Friday in Tripoli amidst the deployment of Lebanese Armed Forces soldiers in the Abdel Hamid Karame Square.  Earlier, dozens of young men gathered in the square and held banners supporting Sheikh Ahmad Assir denouncing the latest clashes that erupted in Sidon.                  

On another note, supporters of Sheikh Assir roamed the streets in Tareeq Jdideh following Friday prayers.                        

Similarly worshipers stormed out of the Bilal bin Rabbah mosque in Sidon on the backdrop of a religious sermon delivered by the new Imam of Bilal Bin Rabah mosque Sheikh Mohammad Abou Zeid.       

Reports said the Imam had failed to mention Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir in his speech, thus triggering a wave of anger among the attenders.              

Fighting in Sidon city began Sunday (23 June) after LAF troops arrested a follower of hardline Sunni cleric Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir follower. The army says the cleric's supporters opened fire without provocation on an army checkpoint.                  

Official reports said at least 17 soldiers were killed and 50 were wounded in the fighting while more than 20 of al-Assir's supporters died in the battle, according to a security official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to talk to reporters.                   

Al-Assir is a virulent critic of the powerful Shiite group Hezbollah group, which along with its allies dominates Lebanon's government.       

He supports rebels fighting to oust Syria's President Bashar Assad. The 2 day fighting between troops and armed supporters of al-Assir have transformed the city, which had been largely spared the violence plaguing border areas near Syria, into a combat zone.


To watch the full LBCI report, please click on the video above.