6 Dead as Tripoli Clashes Resume over Another Attack on Jabal Mohsen Resident
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Clashes in rival neighborhoods in the northern city of Tripoli resumed on Saturday, leaving six people dead and at least 22 others wounded, after a resident was shot in his feet in a renewal of targeted sectarian attacks.
Snipers in the Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen districts became active when Wassim al-Khatib, a Alawite, was shot in his feet in the area of al-Beddawi-al-Mankoubine, in the second such incident in three days.
After news broke about the attack, snipers from both districts took aim at each other and passers-by.
A 15-year-old boy, Omar al-Haswani, Abdul Rahman Merheb, and Ramzieh al-Zohbi were killed from sniper fire in the areas of al-Tabbaneh and al-Zahriyeh, the state-run National News Agency reported.
Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) later added that Ali Sobaihi and Palestinian Bilal Mohammed Saado were also killed.
The NNA identified the sixth victim as Palestinian Mohamed Ali Ahmed, noting that the man had fled from war-torn Syria only few days ago and took refuge in Lebanon.
The army general command said in a communique that an army officer and six other soldiers were injured when several army bases came under fire, one of them critically wounded.
Troops are on the ground, responding to sources of fire, it said.
It confirmed that soldiers evacuated al-Loqman school in Bab al-Tabbaneh and took students to safer areas.
Security forces also diverted traffic after sniper fire reached al-Mallouleh roundabout.
The Arab Democratic Party stressed in a released statement that it disassociates itself from the renewed security-related events taking place in Tripoli.
“What is happening is an uncoordinated popular reaction,” the party said.
Later in the evening, clashes continued to take place in the northern city, amid heavy troops deployment.
The NNA said a stun grenade was hurled in al-Nejmeh Square without causing any injuries.
MTV said remarked that troops deployed in all regions in Tripoli and have erected checkpoints to verify the identity cards of passersby.
It noted that an armed man was arrested near al-Maaloula bridge in the city.
NNA added that troops are patrolling in the area.
On Friday, Jabal Mohsen's Alawites held a sit-in over the recent attacks targeting members of the sect.
Several Tripoli municipal workers from Jabal Mohsen were shot in their feet on Thursday.
The attacks were claimed by the “Military Committee to Avenge the Victims of the Tripoli Bombings,” referring to deadly twin car bomb blasts that targeted Sunni mosques in Tripoli last August.
Sectarian clashes related to the Syrian civil war often flare in Tripoli, in particular between the two impoverished neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen that back opposite sides.
30 November 2013, 10:38
2122
“Military Committee to Avenge the Victims of the Tripoli Bombings,”
The latest "nom de plume" for the KSA patronage of violence in Lebanon.
30 November 2013, 15:42
139
ok mckini, you have to admit, sometimes the iceman can be funny.
02 December 2013, 15:44
07
Tell that to your Al Qaeda in Tabbaneh that keeps starting fights.
30 November 2013, 14:41
1821
the1phoenix, please bro, spare us the simplicity of your argument. The majority of Muslims in Lebanon want as much a better life and future and desire to move into the 21st century as you say. When you use expressions like our muslim siblings have done to this country, sorry but you speak with a tone of arrogance which you really are not entitled to especially as a Christians Lebanese because every sect is guilty in contributing to where Lebanon is today. I myself wouldn't trust one bit the workings of Dr Geaga even to this day. Now speaking of what some muslims did for this country. There are muslims that sacrificed their blood from foreign occupiers of this land and continue to do so to this day. I know you don't see it that way. For Lebanon to move forward it will have to include every region and every one, further challenges will have to be over come. That is no reason to talk down about others, and my apologies if I read too much in your comment. good day.
30 November 2013, 15:38
1816
Hey no worries 1phoenix, you don't have to be politically correct with me whatsoever, I don't take offence, in fact. I am the first to say that Muslims have made and continue to make mistakes in Lebanon, be it socially, religiously or politically. But sorry my friend, you on the other hand have a tendency to distort history and the status of Christians in this land. Just above you said the Christians have remained neutral since 1943, and the shias followers of iran. You do know that the Shias were the like the forgotten sect in Lebanon and Iran didn't even really come into play for any one until the mid 80s and I hope you to know that the Christians enjoyed the backing of the French and to lesser extinct the Israelis. I should also remind you that the Christians, perhaps like Assad today failed to relinquish power on a more equitable level prior to the civil war.
30 November 2013, 16:09
1520
great post the1phoenix, now that is something I can respect and helps one to understand the other side if I can say that. Wish I had more time to comment.
30 November 2013, 15:42
1813
Thephoenix, so what you are saying is that when christians fight each other, it's the fault of non-christians but if muslims fight each other (never mind that alawites arent muslims to begin with) then its the fault of muslims and islam perhaps. Is this what you are saying in your rants? Are you also suggesting that muslims didnt contribute to lebanon after all the soldiers, business, investments, export and tourism muslims have secured? If yes then you are indeed an arrogant liar. I wont comment on the rest of your rants, much of which is actually pure lies and missinformation.
30 November 2013, 15:46
1010
+1000 for the comparaison with blowing up churches.
Without sunni resistance, shia would use their demographic weight and declare Lebanon a shia republic part of wilayat faqih...
30 November 2013, 15:57
611
to the1phoenix, Honolulu,cityboy, and whoever wants to hear:
all your above comment are correct ... and not totally correct.
you see the main problem at hand is creating strife, whether in 1975 or now. and what is happening now is the same as what was happening then, even clearer.
the ones backing murderers for the twin bombings want strife, which could have been avoided by the arrest of the murderers.
30 November 2013, 16:01
1621
Tripoli one of the jewels of Lebanon, hopefully this fighting will come to an end soon. There has to be a greater political will to put an end to it now. No more obstruction from the outside regarding Tripoli. This should really be a very easy situation to heal, they are Lebanese living in the same city, come on!
30 November 2013, 16:37
1521
darn even though I have to run, just had to comment on this. I like the fact that you are suggesting a formula to revamp things. I have never really given thought of what would be a better system. Your idea is one possibility and perhaps that is a challenge for me and others on here to come up with different formulas or perhaps modification to yours. I am not sure though that the muslims would really care to give up all those key ministerial positions. With the exception of the finance you have given the key ones to a Christian minister. perhaps a rotation would be more acceptable. I would also like to say that it doesn't matter what position is held and by whom because agree or not, I think our current ministers have in a sense guns to their heads by foreign powers and this wont change if it is a Christian minister. Now I know we can argue day in and out who is holding that gone. story of Lebanon today.
30 November 2013, 17:10
275
Phoenix darling you have been on this Christian white horse lately to come to save Lebanon. When Christians ruled , Christians became rich, their areas developed, and corruption was inherited from president to the next. Yes they ruled great for Christians.
30 November 2013, 19:20
612
Hala Mukhtar! Another one of your sectarian rants. The Christians ruled and robbed Lebanon since independence and marginalized their fellow moslems. They thought they were the elite, and monopolized everything. This was the real reason for the civil war. The Palestinian issue only helped fuel the underlying fire that was brewing. Stop distorting history and get off your high horse.
30 November 2013, 17:20
1118
Finally some posts worth reading - great discussion. I've been avoiding posting or contributing because of the spam from mckini, morotten, and FT's many accounts.
Not a bad point Lebpatriot. Some truth to it.
30 November 2013, 17:23
512
There is definitely a social inequality in Lebanon that has built up since independence. You see it in access to education, infrastructure, etc.
30 November 2013, 17:27
1311
irrespective of stupid comments (lebpatriot777) from people who do not know how to read, I agree to the idea you are trying to put forth:
actually, if the president is Christian, he should have enough power to act in his position. same for the prime minister and for the head of parliament.
but that will not solve the issue at hand: it is currently the absence of the state in the presence of a well armed militia, supporting terrorists (like ali eid and samaha), that is driving the country tfast towards strife.
this needs an army chief who has balls to deal with it, and not an army chief begging this terrorist militia to be elected the next president.
30 November 2013, 17:36
2012
Thephoenix, when christians had power, they sliced of the genitals of muslim men at checkpoints, raped muslim women and carved out crosses on the bodies of old muslims. Neither the lebanese muslim nor the lebanese christian has a clean history and both have fought their own as well as others. Dont blame others for when christians fought eachother and dont blame others for the christian on christian hate of today. Either learn from history or step away, dont rewrite it in this disgusting way making christians innocent and nonworthy of any blame even when they comitt the most horrible of crimes. Nope sorry, the christians were not pure nor succesful in taking care of of lebanon, neither are the muslims. Lebanon will never be succesful as long as the same civil war players are in control with their parties. As if aoun, geagea and the gemayels have less blood on their hands than others!!!
30 November 2013, 18:28
38
nobody was pure in this country, and playing the blame game is not what is going to fix the problems at hand.
who is pure? who does not have Lebanese blood on their hands?
let us stop the blame game and look forward to a country that functions within the limits of constitution and its arab and international affiliations. (kindly note: we have no Iranian affiliations in our constitution).
30 November 2013, 22:28
90
Thephoenix1, you are the one who posted arrogant secterian comments above. I never said muslims were innocent, not even in my reply to you so please don't try this u-turn change of tone. What you wrote above was nothing but fascist arrogant nonsence. I repeat what i stated, neither lebanese christians or lebanese muslims have been "the good guys" when they had the power. To simplify things in to " christians good muslims bad" like you did is pathetic and completly wrong not to mention shameful. Have a nice evening.
30 November 2013, 18:59
1713
the1phoenix's argument in a nutshell: I love my Muslim siblings, but they are too backwards to rule Lebanon. Christians are much more enlightened.
How open-minded.
-From somebody raised in a Christian family.
30 November 2013, 19:41
51
What would you propose Lebpatriot? Iranian Rule? How is their society and economy?
30 November 2013, 19:56
1319
Well said brother phoenix, Christians and Muslims both have caused atrocities stemming from external influences, be it from arrogance or a perceived divine right to rule, which are hardly different. I cannot understand the hint of anger by some towards your post, which essentially suggests starting anew, a new page, a new twilight, a new beginning, a new HOPE of understanding and peace, understanding that LUBNAN comes FIRST and triumphs over all! When will we understand that Lebanon is our HOME and its citizens our FAMILY?!
Preach on brother, but a word of advise if I may so humbly suggest; avoid bringing up the civil war, it never does good to anybody.
30 November 2013, 22:34
60
Techtonic, you really don't understand why ppl get upset when someone claims lebanese muslims never achieved anything in lebanon and that only christians did? You don't understand that it is upsetting to blame the problems on muslims alone and claim christians only fought eachother because of others as if they are incapable of being the bad guys while muslims fight eachother because they are always the bad guys and it is always their fault. Maybe you didn't see his first comment.
30 November 2013, 19:27
1716
You have no idea what your talking about. Just full of hate for Assad an Hizbollah. That's not going to get you anywhere Gabby.
01 December 2013, 02:03
113
Stop with the herd mentality and understand that there will be no winners in these sectarian wars except some politicians and their foreign masters.
