Lebanese Army commander inspects units in Tripoli

Head of the Army Gen. Jean Kahwagi paid his first official visit to the northern city of Tripoli Saturday and inspected military units that deployed there earlier this month to end fierce clashes that left at least 17 dead. Kahwagi stressed the need to preserve security and adopt strict measures in prosecuting violators. Earlier this month, weeklong clashes in Lebanon's second largest city erupted between two rival districts: Sunni dominated, anti-Assad Bab al-Tabbaneh and Alawite majority, pro-Assad Jabal Mohsen. In response to the clashes, the city's political and security figures met, agreed to a cease-fire and called for the redeployment of the Army, which in turn implemented a security plan to restore order in Tripoli. On Sunday, troops detained 18 gunmen (11 of whom were later released) and seized quantities of arms, ammunition and military hardware in Al-Zahiriyeh neighborhood, which is adjacent to Bab al-Tabbaneh. The Daily Star