Army Contains Families Armed Clash in Central Tripoli
A fierce armed clash erupted on Tuesday between the families of al-Nashar, Hrash and al-Naanai in al-Rifaiyeh in central Tripoli, leaving three people wounded and raising tensions in the city which is still reeling from three days of deadly sectarian clashes.
“The army has managed to contain the clashes in al-Rifaiyeh, which had nothing to do with the Bab al-Tabbaneh-Jabal Mohsen clashes,” Radio Voice of Lebanon (93.3) reported.
Machineguns and rocket-propelled grenades were used in the clashes which quickly spread from al-Rifaiyeh to the city’s spice market, jewelry market, al-Khebbayzeh uphill, al-Mahatra, al-Muallaq Mosque, al-Dababseh, the fish market and Daftardar Square.
Army troops deployed earlier on Tuesday in Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen and other sectors of Tripoli in a bid to calm the northern city after three days of sectarian fighting that killed nine people and wounded dozens.
Troops entered Syria Street, the frontline of fighting between the majority Sunni Muslim district of Bab al-Tabbaneh, and Jabal Mohsen, whose residents are mostly Alawite, at around 6:00 am.
Battles first erupted on Saturday between residents of the rival neighborhoods when General Security agents arrested Shadi al-Mawlawi, a Salafist, on charges of belonging to a terrorist organization. Mawlawi's supporters say he was targeted because of his help for Syrian refugees fleeing to Lebanon.
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