Syrian Resident of Jabal Mohsen Stabbed in al-Qobbeh

Unknown assailants on Monday assaulted a Syrian man who is a resident of the Tripoli neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen.

“Syrian national Ahmed Ibrahim Ali was assaulted in the al-Qobbeh neighborhood” in Tripoli, state-run National News Agency reported, noting that the man was born in 1989 in the northern city.

Ali was rushed to hospital for treatment and LBCI television noted that he is a resident of Jabal Mohsen.

Meanwhile, Abdul Latif Saleh, spokesman for the Arab Democratic Party – the main political and armed force in Jabal Mohsen – confirmed the attack in remarks to al-Jadeed TV.

More than 20 attacks have targeted Jabal Mohsen residents in several areas of Tripoli in recent months.

The most recent incident took place on January 6, when unknown attackers beat up a Jabal Mohsen resident in the neighboring al-Baqqar district.

Tensions between Jabal Mohsen and the rival district of Bab al-Tabbaneh date back to Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war but have been exacerbated by the conflict across the border in Syria, where Alawite President Bashar Assad is battling a Sunni-led uprising.

The unrest worsened when twin bombings rocked two Sunni mosques in the city, leaving around 45 people dead and 500 others wounded. Several suspects from Jabal Mohsen have been accused of involvement in the bombings.

Human Rights Watch has recently urged Lebanese authorities to better protect minority Alawites who are increasingly coming under attack by Sunnis in Tripoli.