Trial of Abra Detainees Postponed, Assir Interrogation Continues

The military court in Lebanon has adjourned the trial of suspects from the 2013 Abra battle in a bid to allow recently arrested terrorist Ahmad al-Assir to provide testimony.

National News agency (NNA) said on Tuesday that the court session of the 71 arrestees, who were engaged in the 2013 battle against the Lebanese army, was postponed till September 15.

Ahmad al-AssirrThe general Prosecution has demanded the referral of Assir for interrogation, NNA added.

For its part, Lebanese newspaper, The Daily Star, quoted a judicial source as saying that Maj. Gen. Khalil Ibrahim delayed the trial so Assir, who led the deadly two-day battle, could be included.

“Assir and another suspect will testify on Sept. 15 before the court,” the source said.

Meanwhile, more details were unfolded on Assir the General Security continued on Tuesday to question the terrorist cleric who led the battle against the Lebanese army two years ago.

Military Prosecutor Judge Saqr Saqr told al-Joumhouria daily that the questioning of Assir could last till Wednesday before his referral to the military tribunal or to the army intelligence for further investigation if needed.

The terrorist cleric was arrested at the airport on Saturday. He was holding a fake Palestinian passport and trying to flee to Nigeria via Cairo.

According to As Safir newspaper, Assir told investigators that he hid in a neighborhood at the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh after escaping from the Bilal bin Rabbah Mosque in Abra, a suburb of the southern city of Sidon, in 2013.

Al-Akhbar daily said that Assir confessed he had moved to northern Lebanon in the trunk of a car and had stayed at the residences of Sheikhs Salem al-Rafehi and Khaled Hoblos.

He later returned to Ain el-Hilweh and tried in vain to join militants in Syria and to travel to Turkey, according to al-Akhbar.