By Darrin Simmons,
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 TRIPOLI, Lebanon-An outbreak of gunfire caused the death of at least six people and wounded thirty in the northern city of Tripoli.  Of the fatalities, one was a sixteen year boy, and of the thirty wounded, seven were soldiers.

The outburst resulted from a string of sectarian attacks targeting Tripoli’s minority Alawite community which is centered in Jabal Mohsen, a neighborhood that firmly supports President Bashar Assad.

The Lebanese Army moved in early on Saturday to aid in the evacuating a school where students had been trapped due to heavy sniper fire.  Earlier, a number of pupils fled the school premises in fear of the violence.

Shop owners on Syria Street, which separates rival neighborhoods, also fled the scene of the gunfire.  The Army also blocked the highway that linked Tripoli to Akkar due to the sniper fire.

Earlier in the week, a Sunni group that strongly opposes Assad claimed a responsibility for the recent shooting and wound of three Alawites in the city.  Rumors have been spreading throughout the city that similar attacks would continue until the Ali Eid, the head of the pro-Assad Democratic Party, was handed to authorities.

According to an Army statement, they have boosted its security measures in the city and have apprehended on suspect for allegedly shooting a man from Jabal Mohsen.  The Army also is pursuing the gunmen who targeted the wounded Lebanese soldiers.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati stated, “We are seeking to put an end to the ongoing security breaches because we, along with the citizens, look forward to activating the security measures.”

Mikati further stated, “I have spoken to President Michel Sleiman about this and the security agencies and the judiciary have the government’s full political backing in order for them to carry out their duties.”

In light of the government’s lack of presence so far, citizens have resorted to vigilante actions said Hadi Hobeish, the Akkar Future Movement MP.  “Shooting at peoples’ legs is unacceptable but we have to look at the reason as well and it is the historic mistake of those behind the bombings,” said Hobeish.

For more information, please see the following: 

Al Bawaba-Four killed in Syria-fuelled sectarian violence in north Lebanon-30 November 2013

Al Jazeera-Deadly gun battles erupt in Lebanon’s Tripoli-30 November 2013

Al Arabiya-Lebanon: sectarian clashes kill three-30 November 2013

Arab News-Lebanon sectarian strife kills 3-30 November 2013

Daily Star-Syria-linked fighting kills five in Lebanon’s Tripoli-30 November 2013