Army warns of ‘plots’ to plunge Lebanon into Syria warJune 07, 2013 08:24 AM (Last updated: June 07, 2013 03:32 PM)By Misbah al-Ali, Antoine Amrieh
| The Daily Star |
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| Lebanese soldiers stand at a checkpoint in the northern city of Tripoli, Friday, June 7, 2013. (The Daily Star/Antoine Amrieh) |
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TRIPOLI, Lebanon: The Lebanese Army cautioned citizens of plots against Lebanon and warned them against being dragged into the Syria war, as fierce overnight clashes in the northern city of Tripoli between supporters and opponents of President Bashar Assad eased Friday.
“The Lebanese Army, as much as it’s going to be resolute in its security measures, urges citizens to be aware of the plots aimed at taking Lebanon back and dragging it into a futile war,” the military said in a statement.
It called on Lebanese to express political views regarding the Syria conflict “democratically and peacefully and without provoking anyone.”
“Do not be dragged behind groups that want to use violence as a means to achieve their objectives,” the Army told citizens.
It also warned pro- and anti-Assad gunmen in Tripoli that force would be met with force.
The statement came as the Lebanese Army set up checkpoints at the entrances to Tripoli as well as on the city’s main roads after heavy clashes in the city linked the crisis in Lebanon’s neighbor.
One security source said at least 11 people were wounded between sunset Thursday and dawn Friday, bringing the one-week casualty toll to six killed and 52 wounded.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said three people were wounded due to the gunbattles that pitted the Salafist Heijar clan against the pro-March 8 Nashar family in Tripoli’s Old Souk area.
Machine gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades were used in the fighting between the two families that erupted after sundown Thursday and lasted until dawn Friday, the source said.
Armored Personnel Carriers belonging to the Army were unable to enter the Old Souk area given that the market is nestled along narrow alleyways.
Five people were also hurt when a rocket-propelled grenade fell on Syria Street that separates the warring neighborhoods of mainly Sunni Bab al-Tabbaneh and predominantly Alawite Jabal Mohsen.
Fighting raged along the traditional frontlines between Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh through much of the night, with loud explosions and intermittent bursts of machine gun fire echoing throughout the city.
An Army officer and a soldier were among the three wounded from the fighting in Jabal Mohsen, according to the security source. They were identified as Lt. George al-Hajj and private Ahmad Ismail.
“Tripoli looked like a ghost city last night,” one resident told The Daily Star. “Only Lebanese military vehicles were visible.”
Despite the cautious calm that has prevailed over Tripoli Friday morning, daily activities in the city were nearly paralyzed. Most shops and businesses were closed.
Schools, which had to brave the fighting and open for final exams this week, were closed.
On Thursday, masked gunmen belonging to neighborhood leader Ziad Alouki raked shops in Tripoli with machine gun fire, forcing owners to close and causing panic among residents. Armed men also blocked roads across Tripoli with burning tires.
Frightened moms and dads rushed to schools to pick up their children and several schools had to stay open until 4 p.m. until parents were able to arrive to collect their loved ones.
The source said the gunmen were enraged by an Army raid on a weapons depot that belonged to Alouki.
The military said Thursday it seized two arms depots – one in Tripoli’s Souk al-Qameh and the other in Jabal Mohsen.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati discussed Friday the developments in Tripoli with caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.
Charbel had said following a late Thursday meeting of Tripoli politicians and religious figures at Future bloc MP Mohammad Kabbara’s residence that the conferees agreed on a security plan for Tripoli.
Kabbara, who had criticized the Army for being biased toward the Arab Democratic Party of Alawite leader Rifaat Eid, appeared to have softened his stance.
"The Lebanese Army will apply the law in a fair way and without discrimination,” he told reporters following the meeting.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2013/Jun-07/219648-march-8-salafist-supporters-clash-in-n-lebanon.ashx#ixzz2VXQzee4B
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)