Cautious calm prevails over various axes in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli, mainly in Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, with sporadic gunshots and sniping operations being heard in residential neighborhoods.
This as, clashes renewed on Saturday between Tripoli's Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh, claiming the lives of 7 persons, including seven-year-old Omar al-Hasswani and Abdel Rahman Mosbah Morheb who were shot dead by sniper fire in Bab al-Tabbaneh and al-Zahriyah.
Citizens Ramzya Omar al-Zoabi, Khaled Sobayhi, Palestinian national Bilal Mohamad Saadou and Syrian national Ali al-Ahmad were also killed while 32 others were injured including 6 Lebanese Armed Forces soldiers.
Some of the injured were identified as Mohamad Nidal al-Mir, Youssef Mechhawi, Amer Dandachi, Jamil Hamid, Abdul Rahman Khamis, Wassim al-Khatib, Nidal al-Barzi, Wadah Dandachi, Jana Abdul Samad Mohamad, Youssef al-Youssef and Sabah Abdul Kader Hamawi.
This comes after snipers launched operations in the vicinity of Tripoli’s international highway and in the region of al-Zahiriyah, while the streets were witnessing a state of chaos and traffic jam as the shop owners closed their stores and most of the schools and universities evacuated the students.
In this context, Lebanese Armed Forces Units worked on evacuating Luqman School located near al-Mallouleh Bridge, and ensured the students’ transfer to safe places amid heavy sniper fire.
Earlier in the day, citizen Wassim al-Khatib from Tripoli’s Jabal Mohsen was hit by gunfire in the legs in the region Baddawi – al-Mankoubin.
To watch the video depicting clashes and sniping operations in Tripoli, click here
Arab Democratic Party:
In a phone call with the state-run National News Agency, the Arab Democratic Party's media spokesman Ali Fodda,, said the party dissociates itself from Tripoli's security incidents, which are "a popular reaction".
LAF statement:
The Lebanese Armed Forces Command issued a statement whereby it said that a number of citizens blocked al-Abdeh – al-Menieh road to protest against the arrest of a wanted man.
The statement added that while a LAF unit was attempting to reopen the road, the protesters opened fire, leaving two soldiers injured, noting that the road was reopened, while army forces are still pursuing the shooters in order to arrest them and refer them to the concerned judiciary.
Caretaker PM Mikati chairs security meeting:
A security meeting was held in the city of Tripoli under the chairmanship of caretaker Prime Minister
Najib Mikati in the presence of caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and security leaders.
Talks featured high on the security plan being carried out in Lebanon's northern city.
The port city of Tripoli has long been a stronghold of Sunni Islamists in northern Lebanon.
But the city has become increasingly volatile in recent months due to the civil war in neighboring Syria, where the Sunni majority is leading a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.
Disputes from neighboring Syria's civil war frequently inflame sectarian grievances in Tripoli. These clashes pit gunmen from both the mostly Sunni Bab Tabbaneh district and the Jabal Mohsen district which mostly comprises residents of Syrian President Bashar Assad's Alawite sect, a Shiite Islam offshoot.
To watch Yazbek Wehbe's report, please click on the VIDEO above