Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) accused on Saturday Hizbullah of the two bombing that rocked the northern city of Tripoli a day before.
“Hizbullah with certainty” is responsible for the attack that killed 35 people in Tripoli, AQIM said in a tweet.
Full StoryCaretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati vowed on Saturday that the northern city of Tripoli will not yield, noting that those who carried out Friday's attacks will be pursued.
“The security forces are fully carrying out their tasks in Tripoli. We called for backup,” Miqati told reporters after a security meeting at his residence in Tripoli.
Full StoryTripoli Salafist cleric Sheikh Salem al-Rafei accused on Saturday the Syrian regime of carrying out the blasts that rocked Ruwais neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs and the northern city of Tripoli, pointing out that if the state can't protect the city then the residents will.
“We are the victims of the Syrian terrorism. We are not takfiris,” al-Rafei told reports after a meeting for the Committee of Muslim Ulemas.
Full StorySecretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdullatif Al-Zayani condemned on Saturday the “terrorist” blasts that rocked the the northern city of Tripoli.
“Targeting worship places and innocent people is a vile criminal action,” al-Zayani said in a statement issued late on Friday.
Full StorySporadic gunfire was heard on Saturday in the northern city of Tripoli as gunmen erected checkpoints and began inspecting the ids of passersby, a day after two deadly blasts that targeted the city.
The calm in the city was violated by intermittent gunfire, in particular, in Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood and the area surrounding it, the state-run National news agency reported.
Full StoryMaronite patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, who is known for his strong views against radical Islamism, said the situation in Egypt and Syria showed there was a plan by outside powers "to destroy the Arab world".
"There is a plan to destroy the Arab world for political and economic interests and boost inter-confessional conflict between Sunnis and Shiites," al-Rahi told Vatican radio.
Full StoryIran denounced on Saturday the powerful blasts that rocked the northern city of Tripoli a day earlier, pointing out that Tehran will not allow “terrorism” to threaten Lebanon's stability and security.
Deputy Iranian Foreign Minister for the Arab and African Affairs Hussein Amir Abdul-Lahian pointed out in comments to IRNA news agency that the explosions that hit Tripoli came after an earlier strike by Israel on the area of Naameh south of Beirut.
Full StoryThe Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau detained Sheikh Ahmed al-Gharib in Tripoli over links to Friday's blasts that rocked the northern city and seized arms from his residence, the state-run National news agency reported Saturday.
According to the NNA, a surveillance camera spotted in the area near the explosion that took place near al-Salam mosque.
Full StoryAt least 45 people were killed and about 500 others wounded in the two blasts that rocked the northern city of Tripoli amid reports saying that the explosive-laden car that hit al-Salam mosque was rigged with 175 kilograms of explosives.
According to An Nahar newspaper published on Saturday, the car used in the blast near al-Salam mosque is a Ford jeep rigged with 175 kilograms of TNT, while military experts are still identifying the car used in the second explosion, which targeted the Taqwa mosque in the northern city.
Full StoryThe U.S. Embassy in Beirut on Friday reminded U.S. citizens to “avoid all travel to Lebanon due to safety and security concerns,” urging those in the country to “exercise security awareness," after at least 40 people were killed and more than 500 wounded in twin bombings that rocked mosques in Tripoli.
"Although there is no indication that U.S. citizens or interests were targets of those behind these attacks, there is a possibility of public demonstrations in response," the embassy said on its website in a security alert titled “Increase in Sectarian Violence in Lebanon.”
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