3 Soldiers Wounded as Army Deploys in Bab al-Tabbaneh

Three soldiers were injured on Monday during a clash with gunmen in the northern city of Tripoli as they deployed in their neighborhood, part of a security plan in the capital of the North.

One of the soldiers was badly wounded after gunmen from the district of Bab al-Tabbaneh opened fire on them. The army responded to the sources of fire as the soldiers deployed heavily in the area.

Their deployment with armored vehicles came as they previously enhanced their presence in the neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen.

On Monday evening, two hand grenades were hurled in the stream of the Abu Ali River in Bab al-Tabbaneh, radio Voice of Lebanon (93.3) reported.

It noted that the grenades were followed by heavy gunfire.

The same radio station also said a gunfire exchange erupted on the Souk al-Qameh-Hay al-Saydeh axis in the northern city. The army responded to the sources of fire.

Later on Monday, Voice of Lebanon said “Bab al-Tabbaneh's clerics have only agreed to the army's deployment on the frontiers without troops entering the internal neighborhoods and streets to pursue the sons of the area.”

It said four people were wounded in the evening, identifying them as Mahmoud Merhi, Ibrahim al-Khatib, Osama Hussein and Mohammed Youssef.

Meanwhile, two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on a house belonging to the pro-Hizbullah al-Mouri family in al-Zahriyeh area, according to the radio station.

One week of clashes between the rival districts has left scores of casualties.

The neighborhoods have been at odds for decades, but skirmishes began to flare with increasing intensity after the Syrian uprising began in March 2011.

The two areas are home to opponents and supporters of Syrian President Bashar Assad.