Death toll rises to 18 in fresh Lebanon clashes

The death toll of the continuing clashes in north Lebanon's port city of Tripoli between the Sunni Bab el-Tebbaneh neighborhood and the rival Alawite Jabal Mohsen rose to 18 killed and more than 100 injured, including 22 soldiers of the Lebanese army. A security source told Xinhua that 4 people were killed and 8 others injured overnight and in the early morning hours of Friday in the clashes that are continuing for the ninth consecutive day. It added that heavy clashes resumed on the traditional front lines between the two rival neighborhoods and rocket propelled grenades and mortar shells were used, while the Lebanese army deployed in the city responded to the source of fire in no vain. An army patrol was targeted in the early morning hours according to a statement by the army guidance directorate, without causing any injuries but an army vehicle was severely damaged. Tripoli has witnessed a series of violent clashes between the Sunnis of Bab el-Tebbaneh backing the rebellion and the Alawite Jabal Mohsen loyal to the Syrian regime since the rebellion against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad in 2011. Source: XINHUA