Zionist Salafi Leader Assir Disobedience Over, Calm Returns to Sidon

Calm prevailed on Tuesday in the southern city of Sidon, a day after the Lebanese Army ended the disobedience announced by Ahmnad al-Assir against the military institution in the eastern neighborhood of Abra.

Al-Manar correspondent reported that the normal life returned gradually to the city, adding that roads linking the south to Beirut were witnessing a natural traffic.
The correspondent added that the army was blowing up mines planted inside the so-called “security zone” of Assir in Abra.

The army evacuated civilians trapped in their homes since the fighting with Assir’s supporters began on Sunday.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Army commander, Jean Qahwaji inspected army units in the southern city, and left without making any statement.

The army took full control of Assir’s complex on Monday after fierce clashes with the hardline cleric’s militants. The clashes claimed the lives of at least 17 Lebanese soldiers and dozens of militants.

The Lebanese judiciary issued also on Monday a detention order for Assir and 123 of his partisans.

On Tuesday, Lebanon’s military and security bodies were all mobilized to search for him, a security source said.
“There are several hypotheses on his whereabouts,” the source told Agence France Presse (AFP).

“Some say he is disguised as a woman and that he has traveled to Tripoli (in northern Lebanon). Others say he may have fled to Syria.”
“It is also possible he is hiding in (the southern Palestinian refugee camp of) Ain el-Hilweh,” he added.

A military source said the army had arrested “dozens of people suspected of loyalty” to Assir as it controlled his complex on Monday.
According to the National News Agency, the number of suspects seized so far has reached 40.