At Least 18 LA Martyrs in the Battle for Sidon, al-Assir Disappeared

Sidon has proven once again its resistance against any kind of threat of terrorism on its citizens and stability. Ahmad al-Assir, the extremist who regularly threatened to create chaos, targeted the sovereignty of Lebanon by attacking the Lebanese Army, claiming 18 martyrs.

However, the city of resistance refused such tomfoolery as cries of condemnation broke for the Lebanese Army to rid them of the “al-Assir phenomenon”.

On Monday, the Lebanese Army was able to control the security bloc of Ahmad al-Assir in Abra, eastern Sidon, and restored control over houses and headquarters that al-Assir’s gangs occupied, confiscating huge amounts of weapons, ammunition, and “al-Nusra Front” flags, in a military operation that lasted two days.

The Lebanese Army was able to kill more than 35 militiamen from al-Assir’s gang, among them his media office director Ahmad Hariri. Also, 78 wounded were transferred to hospitals in Sidon’s clashes as well as 8 citizens.

In parallel, clashes took the lives of 18 valiant soldiers of the Lebanese Army and dozens of wounded, according to the Lebanese Army.

The Army had entered al-Assir’s security bloc, clearing buildings from armed men. The advance was slow and carefully calculated since some of al-Assir’s men were sniping and roads and building entrances’ were booby-trapped.

The intensity of clashes between the Army and the militiamen increased on Monday noon on the coastal highway, claiming lives and wounding many.

Furthermore, al-Ahed News correspondent had reported that “The Lebanese Army controlled all the main and secondary roads in Sidon and established emergency checkpoints to search the passersby.”

Moreover, security sources mentioned that “25 people of al-Assir’s supporters surrendered themselves to the Army’s intelligence,” while Army units were able to apprehend 6 militiamen in al-Taameir area, among them the son of Abu Abed Shamandar, al-Assir’s brother, who disguised as a veiled woman.

On Monday evening, clashes renewed between the Army and al-Assir’s militiamen in Abra, but the Army soon restored control and put out the source of fire.

Also, the Lebanese Army units, while searching Bilal Ben Rabah’s mosque, which Ahmad al-Assir is the Imam of, found many storages containing weapons such as mortars, automatic rifles, hand grenades, as well as explosive devices like TNTs.

On a similar note, al-Assir’s mysterious fate looms, as no one knows where he is. He was not found among the wounded or dead in the security bloc, and information from the spokesperson of the so-called Free Syrian Army Bassam al-Dada showed that al-Assir is in Syria preparing for a so-called “Free Lebanese Army”.

According to sources, al-Assir probably fled with evacuating women and children disguising as a veiled woman.

On Sunday, Ahmad al-Assir’s terrorist gangs clashed with the Lebanese Army in the Southern city of Sidon, causing terror and instability among peaceful citizens.

Al-Assir’s militiamen had used citizens as human shields to cover themselves from the Army’s operations. However, the Lebanese Army was successful in evacuating the citizens from the conflict zone.