Guns Fall Silent in Tripoli after Killing 10, Wounding 55 People
Guns fell silent in the northern town of Tripoli Monday evening as troops moved into the contested neighborhoods of Tabbaneh and Baal Mohsen after clashes claimed 10 lives and wounded 55 people in 36 hours.
The deployment followed one hour of heavy exchanges with Mortars, Rocket-Propelled Grenade launchers, machine guns and automatic rifles.
Helmeted troops manning armored personnel carriers moved into the contested districts following contacts by mediators with leaders of the feuding groups in predominantly Sunni Muslim Tabbaneh and the predominantly Alawite Baal Mohsen district that is backed by the Hizbullah-led opposition.
Scared residents followed army vehicles across deserted streets of Tabbaneh, covered by a blanket of debris and glass shrapnel that testifies to ferocity of shelling that had targeted the district.
Tongues of blaze short up from several apartments and smoke billowed from bullet-scarred vehicles deserted in the streets.
The Army Command, in a communiqué, said security forces are moving in following mediation efforts carried out by spiritual and political leaders.
It warned against the deployment of gunmen in the streets, vowing to use force against them to enforce law and order.
The deployment coincided with a statement by Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri to Tripoli citizens urging them to cooperate with the security forces, practice self-restraint and avoid attempts to lure them into factional conflicts designed by foreign powers.