Aoun says political cover for army was late http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/10651/
- MP Michel Aoun said the political support given for the Lebanese military to destroy the armed group in Sidon was late and not true, indicating that the army had since yesterday - the moment of the fatal attack against it - taken the decision to get rid of the terrorist group in the city.
Aoun recalled his warnings, to security officials, of the threats resulting from the high current of displacement of Syrians into Lebanon, as there might be groups within the displaced people having the aim to clash with the army.Accordingly, Aoun slammed the security officials who failed to assume their national responsibilities in this concern and let certain organizations like Assir's to grow without any control.The General hoped that the current battle in Sidon would be preliminary to liberating Lebanon from all armed members committing crimes against the Lebanese and Lebanon.
Pro Assir sit in kicks off in Tripoli http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/10649/Pro-Assir-sit-in-kicks-off-in-Tripoli
A number of Tripoli locals is currently staging a sit-in in the city's key Abdul Hamid Karami square in support for Salafist Sheikh Ahmad Assir and hoisting religious emblems, National News Agency correspondent reported Monday.In Bab-el-Tabbaneh, heavy gunfire is reported as religious flags flap and prayers inside mosques imploring support for Assir echo throughout the locality.
Gunmen target army checkpoints in Tripoli
http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/10660/Gunmen-target-army-checkpoints-in-Tripoli
National News Agency correspondent reported Monday that gunmen opened fire on two Lebanese army checkpoints in Syria Street in Tripoli.The army countered the fire source.No casualties were reported
Qabbani addresses Lebanese: appeals to defect from Army crime against Sunnis, Lebanon http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/10652/Qabbani-addresses-Lebanese-appeals-to-defect-from-Army-crime-against-Sunnis-Lebanon
Lebanese Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani, said in a letter addressed on Monday to the Lebanese people that the fast-moving events in Sidon and Tripoli and tho incidents spread across the Lebanese territory, aim to distract the Lebanese army with internal side-battles and divert it from its key mission to maintain stability in the country. "Therefore, we seriously warn the Lebanese of the outcome of Sidon's events and the expansion of the battles in all Lebanese regions."Qabbani added that the attack on the Lebanese Army and the calls to defect from it was a crime against Lebanon and the Sunni community."Fighting against the Lebanese Army is unacceptable under any pretext whatsoever," he said, holding accountable those who killed officers and soldiers."The distress calls from citizens trapped in their homes in and around Sidon are not to be neglected. We must facilitate the task of the army to restore security and stability in Sidon, Tripoli, the Bekaa and all Lebanon."In the same context, the Mufti of the Republic contacted the Lebanese Army Chief and paid condolences to the families of the martyrs who died in the clashes, wishing speedy recovery to the injured.