Clashes subsided on Thursday after five people were killed in overnight gun battles between opponents and supporters of the Syrian regime in the Lebanese city of Tripoli.
Mutual hostilities and mortar shells have ceased in Tripoli since 5 am while sniping operations and gunshots are sporadically being heard, leading to the closure of the international road, public and private institutions, municipalities, schools and universities.
On another note, sources confirmed that the vehicle of Sheikh Nabil Rahim was targeted in sniping operations while exiting the region of Bab al-Tebbaneh, no casualties were reported though.
The clashes late Wednesday were the heaviest since the onset of armed conflicts between Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, with fighters using heavy machine guns and mortar rounds.
Mortar bombs, rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns were used in the clashes. At least 18 people have been killed including 2 LAF soldiers and more than 170 wounded in the Lebanese city since the latest bout of fighting started on Sunday.
In this context, a security meeting was held on Thursday morning in Tripoli’s Serail in the presence of ISF commander in Tripoli Bassam Al Ayoubi, the ISF commander of North Lebanon General Mahmoud al-Aanan and Brigadier General Roger Salem who stressed that the situation is “alarming”.
Positions:
Meanwhile, MP Mohammad Kabbara said that a ceasefire decision will be reached soon which all sides would commit to in order to allow the Lebanese Armed forces to deploy and implement a comprehensive security plan in Tripoli.
For his part, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said following a meeting with Tripoli's Ministers and MPs that Tripoli is not a "scene for battles between rival parties".
The caretaker PM Mikati called on Tripoli's residents without exception to put an end to the "suicide en masse rampant throughout the city".
He added that the bloodshed taking place in northern Lebanese capital aims at "humiliating the Lebanese Armed Forces in a bid to force them out of Tripoli."
On another note,
Sheikh Nabil Rahim said that the ongoing clashes in Tripoli are the 10th round since the beginning of the uprising in Syria.
He added that reasons behind the clashes are the Syrian crisis, alongside the sectarian and political tensions between Jabbal Mohsen and Bab al-Tebbaneh regions.
In an interview with LBCI
Nharkom Said TV show, Sheikh Rahim asserted that residents of Bab al-Tebbaneh and Jabal Mohsen have weapons in order to defend themselves following May 7th incidents.
Meanwhile, Caretaker Youth and Sports' Minister Faysal Karami stressed that “residents of Tripoli are wondering whether their city is a portion of Lebanon," raising questions about the government’s silence in the face of Tripoli’s incidents and all the parties’ preoccupation with the adoption of a new electoral law.
In this regard, Karami noted that last night was the “worst” in Tripoli since the 1975 Lebanese civil war, stressing that the Lebanese Armed Forces and the security institutions “are the sole option”.
Karami said that the Syrian conflict is taking a toll on Lebanon, mainly on Tripoli, however adding that solely classifying the conflict as one between “pro- and anti- Syrian regime forces is wrong since Lebanon does not have the power to influence the events in Syria."
For his part, Former head of the Internal Security Forces retired Major General Ashraf Rifi told LBCI that "those who were behind Fatah al-Islam organization are the same ones who are attempting to foment strife in Tripoli today."
"There is a party who is participating in the al-Qusayr battle and is attempting to divert attention to Tripoli," he said in reference to Hezbollah.
LBC/AP/REUTERS
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