2 Dead, 17 Hurt as Clashes Renew in Tripoli, Army Fires Back at Gunmen
Two people were killed and 17 others were wounded on Thursday as the exchange of gunfire renewed in the Tripoli neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen and other frontiers in the northern city.
"The casualty toll from the Tripoli clashes has risen to two dead and 17 wounded," LBCI television reported.
In remarks to Agence France Presse, a security source identified one of the dead as Moatassem al-Shamra, 26, who was killed in an exchange of fire in the Qobbeh neighborhood that also wounded two others.
Two more people were injured by gunfire in Bab al-Tabbaneh, the source said, adding that a soldier had also been wounded in the city, but it was unclear where.
"Sniper fire intensified on all frontiers in Tripoli and residents are fleeing some areas en masse as lights were totally switched off," Radio Voice of Lebanon (100.5) reported.
Some casualties happened near Khalaf Supermarket, state-run National News Agency said.
Future TV identified the wounded as Ahmed Mahmoud Shaqra, Muatassem al-Bireh, an army naval commando, a citizen from al-Shumra family and another from Fakhreddine family.
Meanwhile, many media outlets said several people were wounded when a shell hit an apartment in Jabal Mohsen.
The army closed the Tripoli-Akkar road due to sniper activity and is shooting back at the sources of gunfire, LBCI said.
The National News Agency said the army was responding with medium-caliber weapons against the sources of gunfire in Jabal Mohsen, Bab al-Tabbaneh, al-Baqqar, Hariri Project, al-Mankoubin, al-Mallouleh and Syria Street.
VDL (100.5) said a meeting for the leaders and clerics of Bab al-Tabbaneh was underway in Harba Mosque.
It also said heavy gunfire erupted at the Hariri Project-al-Baqqar-Qobbeh Square area, leaving a man identified as Mutassem al-Bireh wounded.
The radio station revealed that Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil telephoned Rifaat Eid, the political relations officer of the Arab Democratic Party – the main political and military force in Jabal Mohsen -- to inquire about the security situation in Tripoli.
Al-Manar television quoted an Arab Democratic Party source as saying that "the clashes in Tripoli are between the army and gunmen positioned in Bab al-Tabbaneh."
"The latest security-related developments in Tripoli are currently being discussed at the cabinet's session," Future TV said.
Later on Thursday, the National News Agency said a man identified as Yahia al-Thalji was wounded by sniper fire near al-Jihad Mosque in Bab al-Tabbaneh.
"The army closed the Tripoli-Akkar road due to sniper activity and is shooting back at the sources of gunfire," LBCI said.
Citing reports, Future TV said the leaders of Bab al-Tabbaneh's frontiers have decided to start a battle with Jabal Mohsen and sever contacts with political forces and security agencies.
The TV network also said gunmen were gathered in areas that are "relatively far from the frontiers of fighting."
"Some of them are publicly roaming Tripoli's streets in their cars," it added.
A man was killed on Wednesday by sniper gunfire.
“A man who hails from Jabal Mohsen was killed after he received a gunshot in his head in the city's al-Mouhajirin street,” it detailed, while MTV noted that his name is Talal Azaya.
Clashes erupted in the city after a shootout broke out earlier on Wednesday at the Qobbeh state-run hospital.
The hospital's incident was soon followed by the appearance of gunmen in the area between the Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen neighborhoods and shells were also dropped in the region.
Taher Mohsen Jadeed and his brothers Youssef and Mehdi were wounded in the hospital shootout, reported OTV.
MTV said that five people were injured in the incident, which was prompted by a sectarian dispute.
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