Army to Stay in State of Alert in Tripoli for 3-6 Months to Contain ‘Lava of Syrian Volcano’
The Lebanese army is expected to remain in a state of alert in the northern port city of Tripoli for a period of three to six months to contain the latest deadly clashes that erupted between Alawites and Sunnis over a rally against the Syrian government.
Officials in Tripoli that are in contact with security authorities told An Nahar daily published Sunday that “the army succeeded in putting an end to the lava of the Syrian volcano and would continue along with the security forces to confront” a new eruption.
“The army will remain in a state of alert between three to six months until the neighboring volcano” stops from being active, the sources said. They were referring to the turmoil in Syria and anti-Assad demonstrations.
The fighting erupted on Friday in Tripoli’s Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen after hundreds of demonstrators gathered for a protest against Syria's Alawite president, Bashar Assad.
“It was wrong to consider the Tripoli incident as part of the local (political) crisis because it came as a result of the incidents in Syria,” the sources told An Nahar. Seven people were killed and 50 injured in the fighting.
The army command warned in a communique that the military “will respond with firmness and strength to the sources of fire from any side and will not show leniency with anyone carrying arms or jeopardizing the lives of people.”
Although the army deployed heavily in the two neighborhoods of Tripoli and their surroundings, Voice of Lebanon radio station said that two hand grenades were tossed at Jabal Mohsen overnight, injuring one person.
It did not give further details.
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