Two Asir Supporters Arrested in Eastern Sidon
The army arrested on Tuesday two supporters of Salafist cleric Ahmed al-Assir in the Sharhabil region near the southern city of Sidon over their involvement in last June's clashes against the military institution.
"Army forces were able to arrest Hadi Qawwas and Mohammed Wehbeh in Sharhabil,” the state-run National News Agency reported.
The fighting near Sidon was sparked on June 23 when Asir's supporters opened fire on an army checkpoint, leaving around 18 soldiers and more than 20 gunmen dead.
The gunbattles concentrated in the area of Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque and nearby buildings in Abra.
Asir, a 45-year-old cleric who supports the overwhelmingly Sunni rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, is no where to be found.
In July, Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr issued eight arrest warrants against fugitives, including al-Asir and former singer Fadel Shaker over the clashes against the army.
The Salafist cleric has released two audio messages since his disappearance, the latest was on Monday.
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