Angry Protesters Torch Syrian Tents in Beirut, Bekaa

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Angry Lebanese nationals reportedly torched tents that were housing Syrian refugees after news emerged on the beheading of another Lebanese soldier by Islamist gunmen who overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in August.

MTV reported on Sunday that enraged protesters set ablaze tents for Syrian refugees residing in encampments in Beirut's southern suburb neighborhood of al-Lailaki and Hay al-Sellom.

Other refugees were given an ultimatum to leave the towns they are residing.

LBCI also said that furious protesters torched tents for Syrians in an informal campsite in the Bekaa town of Brital.

The National News Agency later reported that Syrians residing in an encampment on Riyaq - Baalbek highway left their unofficial camp site and headed toward the west Bekaa.

On Saturday, several pro-jihadist Twitter accounts published gruesome pictures apparently showing Islamic State militants beheading a second Lebanese army soldier, around ten days after the same group executed captive army sergeant Ali al-Sayyed.

The so-called Qalamun branch of the Islamic State also published a statement confirming the execution of 20-year-old army soldier, Abbas Medlej, after he reportedly tried to escape.

Medlej hailed from a large Shiite clan from the eastern city of Baalbek.

About two dozen more members of the country's security forces remain held captive by the militants. They were seized in August when several Syrian rebel factions, including the Islamic State group and al-Qaida linked Nusra Front, overran Arsal, killing and kidnapping soldiers and policemen in the most serious spillover yet of the neighboring civil war.

The captured soldiers and police are from country's many religious sects.

The family of Medlej issued a statement late on Saturday calling for warding off sedition and preventing takfiris from infiltrating the country and achieving their goals.

As news broke that Medlej was executed, angry protesters took to the streets and blocked roads in Beirut's southern suburbs, Bekaa's Ablah, al-Labweh, al-Ain, and the northern town of Halba.

There are fears that Syrian refugees would be assaulted in retaliation to the beheading of the two army soldiers, however, the Islamic groups warned of any revenge act.

Hosting more than 1.1 million Syrians fleeing their country's three-year war, Lebanon is home to the highest number of Syrian refugees in the region, and also to the highest refugee population per capita in the world.

Comments 19
Thumb _mowaten_ 07 September 2014, 10:52

even if i understand and share their anger, attacking civilians is completely unacceptable. we need to go after isis/nusra, not some poor refugees who have been the first to suffer from these apes.

Default-user-icon cityboy-mowaten (Guest) 07 September 2014, 11:56

but it is your civilized people who were out in force killing, kidnapping, and cursing

Thumb lebanon_first 07 September 2014, 10:56

The war was between Assad and Syrian democracy seekers.
Then it became between Assad and Extremist islamists. (ISIS)
Then it became between Hezbollah and Extremist islamists.
Then it became between Lebanese army and Extrimst islamists.
Now it became between Lebanese people and syrian refugees- Assad reached his objective.

All those ripples of destruction and death started up by Evil Assad.

Thumb _mowaten_ 07 September 2014, 11:12

lebanon_first you sounded sane until "Assad reached his objective"

let's forget that you have nothing to back such claims, just answer me that: why would he want that? how on earth would that be his objective?

Default-user-icon hammouds (Guest) 07 September 2014, 11:53

why wouldn't he do that mowaten...?lol you are being paid well to defend hizb and assad

Thumb lebanon_first 07 September 2014, 12:49

Mowaten.
The rhetoric of Assad since 2012 has been "If I am attacked, and go down, the whole region will go down with me" We both know that. Or you want me to give you proof of that? I can give you a link to that statement. Or I can remind you of his attempts to plant sedition in lebanon by sending Michel Samaha.

Today, There is conflict between army and islamists, between lebanese and syrian refugees:HIS WAR REACHED LEBANON. His statement "If you mess with Syria, there will be war in the whole region, spare my regime, and stability will return" materialized. He hence reached his regional objective.

Thumb lebanon_first 07 September 2014, 12:50

Mowaten.
The rhetoric of Assad since 2012 has been "If I am attacked, and go down, the whole region will go down with me" We both know that. Or you want me to give you proof of that? I can give you a link to that statement. Or I can remind you of his attempts to plant sedition in lebanon by sending Michel Samaha.

Today, There is conflict between army and islamists, between lebanese and syrian refugees:HIS WAR REACHED LEBANON. His statement "If you mess with Syria, there will be war in the whole region, spare my regime, and stability will return" materialized. He hence reached his regional objective.

Missing helicopter 07 September 2014, 19:54

You can even go back to Hafez Assad days. He armed all anti-Lebanon groups within Lebanon to have proxies that he uses as he pleases to destabilize Lebanon. Baath believes that Lebanon should be part of Syria and at the very least subjugated to Syria in all aspects.

Thumb zahle1 08 September 2014, 01:21

I think this is an accurate portrayal of events

Default-user-icon Mahdi Faridoon Harun (Guest) 07 September 2014, 11:55

but flamethrower you always said you never defend assad, I am surprised. Even my brother was shocked.

Default-user-icon theresistance4.0-ashrafiehBurnHA (Guest) 07 September 2014, 11:58

yalla ya hero show us what you can do

Thumb Chupachups 07 September 2014, 13:03

the birth of ISIS - enjoy .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMjXbuj7BPI

Thumb Chupachups 07 September 2014, 13:03

the birth of ISIS - enjoy .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMjXbuj7BPI

Thumb lebanon_first 07 September 2014, 13:06

Closeted flamerinteyeh.

Pathetic. You are stagnating in certitudes manufactured and packed by others for your consumption.

If you crave to debate with big boys and add something to the debate other than boring platitudes, I suggest you leave the keyboard for a few hours a day and go training your single neuron brain in distinguishing shades of gray.

Thumb lebanon_first 07 September 2014, 13:06

Closeted flamerinteyeh.

Pathetic. You are stagnating in certitudes manufactured and packed by others for your consumption.

If you crave to debate with big boys and add something to the debate other than boring platitudes, I suggest you leave the keyboard for a few hours a day and go training your single neuron brain in distinguishing shades of gray.

Missing .karim-- 07 September 2014, 19:49

This is entirely FSA-Nusra's fault. They KNEW that Syrian refugees would be in jeopardy if anything happened to the soldiers.

Thumb scorpyonn 07 September 2014, 22:25

If ISIS continues its murderous rampage it may succeed in uniting warring countries to band together to destroy it.

Thumb kanaandian 07 September 2014, 22:31

syrians need to be on the front lines against their savages, any syrian not doing so is a jabhat luva

Default-user-icon elias (Guest) 08 September 2014, 01:03

kill them all expel them out of lebanon let them go back they are all the same goverment oposition