Tripoli's clashes resume for the fourth day, death toll reaches 12

       
Clashes renewed throughout several axes in Tripoli, mainly Bab el-Tebbaneh and Masharii Hariri on Wednesday afternoon, interrupting the cautious calm that had been prevailing at the axes of Bab el-Tebbaneh and Jabal Mohsen in Lebanon's volatile northern city.     

Sporadic gunfire, sniping operations and intermittent gunshots are being heard, noting that mortar shells and rocket-propelled grenades are targeting al-Malouleh, al-Mankoubin and al-Rifa as well as Jabal Mohsen.      

Mortar shells destroyed dozens of houses in al-Mankoubin, al-Beddawi and Wadi al-Nahle regions, as residents of al-Malouleh region fled their homes.

A state security member identified as Youssef al-Fakir, who is the bodyguard of MP Khoder Habib, was injured during clashes in Tripoli's Jabal Mohsen.

This as officials at the axes in Bab el-Tebbaneh said that they will be delivering their stance regarding the cease fire within 2 hours to MP Mohammad Kabbarah, Sheikh's Bilal Hammoud and Nabil Rahim.

Conflicting reports said gunfire hit the convoy of MP Kabbarah without causing any injuries; "his bodyguards responded to the source of fire," sources said.

This as schools, universities and shops remained shut throughout the northern Lebanese city.

The death toll in Tripoli's latest round of clashes reached 12 by Wednesday after violence rocked the city throughout the night. 130 others were reported wounded as sniper activity and sporadic gunfire renewed in al-Malouleh, al-Mankoubin, Jabbal Mohsen and Bab al-Tebbaneh regions for the fourth consecutive day.

The latest victim was identified as Mahmoud Obeid (40) who was killed in al-Mankoubin region.

On Tuesday evening, residents of Jabal Mohsen headed to shelters upon the request of the Arab Democratic Party which had stated it had entered the "midst of the battle and would not retreat".

By Wednesday however, the Arab Democratic Party announced that it will hold a meeting later in the day to take a final decision in regard to its involvement in the clashes in the wake of contacts held with Damascus.

The Lebanese Armed Forces completed their deployment in Tripoli’s hotpots, in hopes of restoring security in areas witnessing clashes after two LAF soldiers were killed and 6 were injured on Monday.

In turn, civil activists held a demonstration in Tripoli to denounce the sectarian incitement and continuous clashes in the city.

Tripoli has been the scene of heavy clashes between Sunni's from the Bab al-Tebbaneh who support the Syrian uprising and the Alawites of Jabbal Mohsen, who support the Syrian regime of Bachar Assad.

In March 2013, a wave of violence left five people killed and 26 others wounded, including LAF personnel, in battles between the two areas.

Positions:

The secretary-general of the Arab Democratic Party, Refaat Ali Eid, told al-Akhbar newspaper on Wednesday that "contacts were held with Damascus in hopes of restoring calm to the city."

Eid added that fighters from Bab al-Tabbaneh attacked and shot at Lebanese Armed Forces soldiers.

For his part, Caretaker Minister of Defense Fayez Ghosn asserted that the Lebanese Armed Forces have fully deployed in Tripoli, noting that the LAF may enter any Lebanese city without any exception, adding that the LAF received "the go ahead" from various political leaders to carry out this mission.

Minister Ghosn said that Lebanon is being drifted toward sectarian strife, calling all Lebanese leaders to bear their national responsibility in this regard.