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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
At Least 10 Dead in Tripoli Clashes as Heavy Weapons Used for 1st Time
2013-05-24
[An Nahar] At least nine people were killed on Thursday in ongoing festivities between the rival Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, as different caliber mortars in addition to flare bombs were introduced to the battle for the first time.

The fighting intensified as the night fell on the city after intermittent festivities throughout the day, amid several futile attempts to reach a ceasefire.

"We're about to reach a ceasefire decision to which everyone would commit and which would allow the implementation of a comprehensive security plan and a broader deployment by the Lebanese army on the frontier between the two districts and on all fighting frontiers, in order to restore security and stability in the city," MP Mohammed Kabbara announced in the afternoon.

MTV reported that caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati had invited the leaders of the fighting frontiers to a meeting at his residence and that they refused to attend it, but the premier's office denied the report.

The National News Agency said two people were killed in the evening in Jabal Mohsen, identifying them as Ali al-Ali and Suleiman al-Ali.

"Stray bullets reached al-Tal, Abi Samra and al-Qobbeh, sparking a major state of fear among citizens," NNA said.

Later, Voice of Leb radio (100.5) said Milad Hadshiti was killed when a sniper shot struck him in the head at the Hariri Project area in al-Qobbeh.

The security forces will take the necessary measures to restore clam in Tripoli within the coming few hours, NNA said.

Earlier, the army said three troops were maimed when an army base in the Dahr al-Mughr area came under gunfire. Two other soldiers were also injured, one critically, when their civilian car came under gunfire outside the entrance of the North's military hospital.

"Army units responded to the sources of gunfire and launched a major crackdown to arrest the perpetrators while the maimed were transported to hospital for treatment," said a statement issued by the Army Command.

A security source had told Agence La Belle France Presse: "Very violent fighting took place last night until 5:00 am that killed six people and maimed 40. The festivities and shelling affected several areas of the city, including the center,"

NNA said the gunbattles witnessed for the first time the use of 60 and 81 mm caliber mortar shells.
Posted by:Fred

#5  Key to the benefit program is not getting killed.
- Peter Fauk


Be safe Bill, don't trust the locals and get hard copy in triplicate from anybody on the country team.

Mnr. Besoeker
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-05-24 20:13  

#4  Thanks for the on-site report, Bill.

I don't think I like your "new normal" very much. :-(

Stay safe. Trust no one.
Posted by: Barbara   2013-05-24 18:56  

#3  Well, it was noisy last night in beautiful downtown Tripoli. The Libyans shoot off fireworks to celebrate weddings and they have gun sex to go along with the fireworks, it was not until the heavier machine guns were used that I could tell it was a firefight and not a wedding party.
There are intermittent shots heard around here at night. I am still learning the neighborhood geography so I cannot say exactly where I am. BUT I can say based upon my experience with gunfire in the past, the shooting last night was close.
We have two categories of fighters, the REVS or revolutionaries that ousted Qaddiffi and the militias who tend to be those that pine for the good old days under Daffy. Those two groups operate much like the Crips and Bloods in LA in that they will start shooting at each other at the drop of a hat. They do tend to make nice to avoid bystanders but .51 and .556 stuff does carry.
More to follow when I get my geography down.
So much for normalcy. It was pretty calm and I felt pretty safe until late last night.
Posted by: Bill Clinton   2013-05-24 18:28  

#2  
Posted by: Pliny the Cheap6130   2013-05-24 09:55  

#1  Popcorn
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2013-05-24 04:58  

00:00