Lebanese army arrests 18 gunmen, seizes weapons in Tripoli

The Lebanese army said Sunday it has raided a site in the northern city of Tripoli where it detained 18 gunmen and seized two truckloads of weapons and ammunition. According to a statement by the army's guidance directorate, the army raided al-Zahriyeh area in Al Qebbeh region in Tripoli after gunmen opened fire at one of the army patrols in the neighborhood. "Army reinforcements were sent to the area, where they staged a major crackdown on the hideouts of the gunmen. Eighteen gunmen were arrested and quantities of weapons, ammunition and military equipment were seized," the statement said. It added that "the detainees and the seized items were handed over to the relevant authorities for further action." One man was killed and six others were wounded in Tripoli on Sunday as fresh clashes broke out between the rival neighborhoods of Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh, a security official said. Three of the wounded were Lebanese soldiers who were deployed in the port city to quell tensions after fierce street battles first erupted Monday, raising concerns that Syria-linked violence could destabilize the country.