Heavy Shelling Batters North Lebanon's Tripoli

[Comrade Grumpy]

Source: Daily Star (Lebanon)

TRIPOLI, Lebanon: Lebanon’s northern city of Tripoli witnessed the worst night of clashes since fighting between supporters and opponents of President Bashar Assad in the city erupted over the weekend, amid fears the Lebanese Army might withdraw from the area.

According to observers, the shelling, which tapered off at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning, was marked by heavy use of mortar bombs and rocket-propelled grenades. In a one-hour period during the night, at least 47 mortar bombs rained on Lebanon’s second-largest city, forcing many residents to huddle in corners of their homes they felt could offer shelter.

Around 4:30 a.m., a 300-strong force of Salafist fighters from the mainly Sunni Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood, which backs the uprising in Syria, tried to launch an offensive against gunmen loyal to President Bashar Assad in the opposite area of Jabal Mohsen.
They were repelled by Lebanese soldiers, who opened fire with heavy machine guns.

In all, 10 people, including two soldiers, have been killed and over 70 wounded since hostilities erupted Sunday, shortly after Syrian government troops backed by elite fighters from Hezbollah launched a major offensive in the rebel-held strategic city of Qusair near the border with Lebanon.

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Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2013/May-22/217950-heavy-shelling-batters-north-lebanons-tripoli.ashx#axzz2U0RHFEIV

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The Syrian civil war spreads, and "Salafist fighters" are leading the charge.

[Scootaloo]

1. So for those playing the home game...

Fire has already been traded with Turkey though it's not regarded as "major."

Israel has been operating past the armistice line, firing on Syrian army posiitons and conducting patrols. They recently lost a tank and retaliated with two missile strikes.

In northern Syria, Kurdish towns are establishing their own autonomy and fending off all comers.

The US is giving support of some levels to "the rebels," though which faction isn't known; likely this is only going to prolong the conflict.

Now this in Lebanon. Meanwhile refugees file into Jordan and Iraq - situations that have worked out so well in the past.

I hope nobody here is particularly attached for the current borders of these nations. Sykes-Picot is looking just a little wobbly at the moment.