Deadly battles erupt in Lebanon’s Tripoli

Deadly battles erupt in Lebanon’s Tripoli
Sat Jan 18, 2014 08:24:29

Violent clashes have flared up in northern Lebanon while the death toll of rocket attacks on Lebanese cities from Syrian territory climbs to at least nine.

At least one person was killed in clashes between supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Lebanese city of Tripoli on Friday.

Gunfire was heard in the neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen.

According to officials in the Jabal Mohsen neighborhood, Alawite residents are the ones paying the price of the random attacks in the city.

Some in the Bab al-Tabbaneh district, however, point the finger at security officials, alleging that they are relaying information to the gunmen on their targets.

Earlier in the day, seven rockets launched from the Syrian territory hit the outskirts of the city of Arsal in northeastern Lebanon with no reports of casualties yet.
Prior to that, nine people, including seven children, were killed in other rocket attacks on several cities including Arsal and Hermel, nearly 50 kilometers away.

The Syrian conflict has spilled over into some parts of Lebanon, and clashes have frequently been reported along border regions.

Syria has been gripped by a destructive, foreign-backed insurgency since 2011. According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.

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