Lebanon

Clashes in Lebanon’s Tripoli kill 9 in five days

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Nine people, including a Lebanese army soldier, have been killed in five days of clashes in the northern city of Tripoli.

The clashes broke out between supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his opponents in the city on January 17.

“After a civilian and an army soldier were killed today, the death toll since Friday has risen to nine people,” said a Lebanese security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, on Wednesday.

The clashes have been mainly between people living in the neighborhoods of Bab al-Tibbaneh and Jabal Mohsen. The Bab al-Tibbaneh residents support militants fighting against the Syrian government, while the inhabitants of neighboring Jabal Mohsen are loyal to Assad.

The Lebanese official also stated that on Wednesday morning “armed men from Bab al-Tibbaneh launched a rocket-propelled grenade at a military vehicle.”

He added that as many as 65 people, including four soldiers, were wounded in the attack. He said one of the four troops wounded in the attack died later in the day from his injuries.

Tripoli has been the scene of fierce clashes between the supporters and opponents of the Syrian government since the beginning of the unrest in Syria almost three years ago.

According to the United Nations, over 100,000 people have lost their lives in Syria due to the turmoil.

Western powers and their regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey — are reportedly supporting the militants operating inside Syria.

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

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