1 Dead, 4 Hurt as Asir Supporters, Resistance Brigades Clash in Abra
Clashes erupted on Tuesday afternoon between supporters of Islamist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir and members of the Hizbullah-affiliated Resistance Brigades in the Sidon neighborhood of Abra, leaving at least one person dead and four others wounded.
Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said the fighting broke out between Asir supporters and “Mahmoud al-Sous' group, which belongs to the Resistance Brigades.”
"Several people were killed and wounded in the clash that erupted in the town of Abra, east of Sidon. One of the dead was identified as Mohammed Hashisho and four other people were wounded," state-run National News agency reported.
Media reports said rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) were used in the clashes as Voice of Lebanon (93.3) said a mortar shell was fired.
Meanwhile, al-Jadeed television said “masked gunmen deployed across Abra as residents fled the area,” adding that “gunmen loyal to Sheikh al-Asir are trying to storm apartments belonging to Hizbullah in Sidon's Abra.”
MTV also said masked gunmen and snipers deployed heavily on the rooftops of buildings in Abra and that the army was shooting back at the sources of gunfire.
"Things have returned to normal and traffic resumed in Sidon as the army deployed in the streets," al-Manar television reported in the evening.
The Army Command had issued an ultimatum to "all gunmen in Sidon to immediately withdraw from the streets," warning that troops "will open fire on any gunman and will shoot back at the sources of gunfire."
Sources told Future TV that "an agreement on a ceasefire in Abra has been reached and the army started deploying in the region."
"Reports said an agreement sponsored by Sidon's mufti Sheikh Salim Sousan was reached with Sheikh al-Asir to withdraw gunmen from Abra," al-Jadeed said.
Later, Asir told LBCI: "We give a deadline until Monday to evacuate Hizbullah's apartments in Abra."
OTV had reported earlier that "Hizbullah has committed itself not to advance towards the rival positions in Sidon until the moment and any other claims are untrue."
"Hizbullah is keen on pacification but will not allow any change on the ground in Sidon and the neighboring villages," sources told OTV.
Earlier on Tuesday, LBCI television said unknown individuals intercepted a van belonging to a water supply company owned by Asir's brother in al-Qayaa in northern Sidon.
“As the driver and his assistant were distributing water in the al-Qayaa area, a group assaulted them, forcing them to escape from the car which collided into a wall,” LBCI added.
Asir's supporters said the attackers belong to the Resistance Brigades.
Voice of Lebanon said Asir had vowed not to stay silent over the "criminal act" against his brother.
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