Commandos Descend on Tripoli, Ghosn Warns Country's Fate at Stake
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Army commandos joined on Tuesday other military brigades seeking to impose security in the northern city of Tripoli after deadly clashes between rival neighborhoods left several people dead and injured.
The army completed the deployment before noon in the areas that witnessed heavy clashes in the past three days, said the state-run National News Agency.
But after the deployment, the clashes and sniper fire intensified in several areas and mainly in the neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, reportedly leaving one dead and at least five injured.
All private and state-run schools in Tripoli and the nearby al-Beddawi area were closed. The Lebanese University campus in al-Qobbeh in addition to shops and markets were also shut.
The army command said two soldiers were killed in Bab al-Tabbaneh on Monday. Their death in addition to Tuesday's casualties brought the toll since the fighting erupted on Sunday to five.
The army’s communique said soldiers will firmly respond to the sources of fire.
Caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn condemned on Tuesday the attack on the army, saying the military institution will remain steadfast to protect the country and preserve security.
He warned in a statement that the security chaos in Tripoli was putting the entire country's fate at stake.
The people behind “instigation campaigns … will not be able to prevent the army from confronting those who gave themselves the right to tamper with the city's security,” Ghosn said.
“The past few days proved that there is no political cover to anyone … and that the army is the decision-maker in resolving” such issues, he added.
Tripoli has seen repeated clashes between Sunnis residing the neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh and gunmen from Jabal Mohsen whose residents are from the Alawite sect of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
In March, at least five people were killed and 26 others were wounded, including army troops, in gunbattles between Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh.
21 May 2013, 18:30
00
Bless them with the courage to protect themselves and our people! may they stop being concerned with sectarian politics and destroy those that attack the watan. the lebanese army is the Republic of Lebanon! it shouldn't matter who or why or if they get a green light from these sectarian politicians. Crush those that attack the watan.... Full Stop....
21 May 2013, 13:00
47
When will the FSA-Al Qaeda terrorists that murdered 2 of our army soldiers in Arsal be brought to justice?
21 May 2013, 13:55
53
Maybe it's from the alawits' side. Every body fighting is responsible if what is happening. You cannot hold one side responsible just because you are in the opposite side.
21 May 2013, 18:23
21
great pierro... let us be realistic, it is not from jabal moshen. they are the very tiny minority of allawites living in tripoli. the attacks are coming from the salifists who are eating hearts at the thought of infidels living amongst the salafist strong hold of Tripoli! its sad that the city of Tripoli has been overtaken through the natural lebanese tolerance, and allowed these demons to claim that anyone that does not observe their strict interpretation of islam is an infidel and must be converted or beheaded... sunni, christain, shiite, allawite or druze.
21 May 2013, 13:00
45
When will the FSA-Al Qaeda terrorists that murdered 2 of our army soldiers in Arsal be brought to justice?
21 May 2013, 13:15
24
Everybody knows that it is the Sunni extremists that are at fault. They are lashing out because of their defeats in Syria ...
And everybody will keep this in mind come elections ... That elements of M14 stand behind these Wahhabi terrorists ...
Even Sunnis are wary of what new takfiri strength M14 will bring to Lebanon threatening any form of moderation.
This is a big PR defeat for Future ... Everybody knows Hariri has been and is supporting these terrorists.
21 May 2013, 13:25
14
It's funny, Hariri seems to be ALWAYS on the losing side of things.
Yet, he keeps on moving in the same direction. One would assume that he would learn something, but I guess not.
21 May 2013, 14:57
44
Hariri is taking orders from the KSA ... This whole Parliamentary boycott, fighting in Tripoli and the Infiltration of the Army are all parts of the plan to drive Lebanon into chaos ... They are also starting to screw with Lebanese banks.
They are losing big in Syria and this is showing just how ineffectual the US-NATO-KSA-Qatari gambit has been. Unfortunately for Lebanon the gloves will now come off. This evil alliance cares not about Lebanon or its people and will embroil the region to prove they can.
21 May 2013, 21:08
00
waw! what a nice scenario all based on assumptions of a supporter of a party that pledge allegiance to an islamic revolution! LOL
21 May 2013, 14:22
43
I agree with you the1phoenix .Lebanon has become a farm for lots of imported scum .God bless our army .
21 May 2013, 14:53
15
Any party that flies a foreign flag is a party of traitors...look @ hizb and the Alawite parties...pathetic really...
21 May 2013, 21:09
01
lol as if nasrallah does not do the same in front of khamenei! oh! and go to dahiye see how many iranian flags float there! LOL....
21 May 2013, 15:19
04
Doux petit seigneur Jésus. Que dieu aide les tripolitains et les libanais.... Mon dieu, mon dieu!
21 May 2013, 17:39
21
Wahabi terrorists trying to get retribution on innocent citizens for what has happened to them in Syria. Deepest condolences to all lebanese for their two fallen, brave sons.
