Fighting In Northern Lebanon Kills 6, Wounds 15

Tripoli, Lebanon as seen from the Citadel

From Yahoo News/AP:

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Sectarian clashes broke out Friday in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, killing six people, including a 10 year-old-boy and a policeman, and wounding at least 15, police officials said.

The clashes between Sunni Muslim gunmen and Alawites, an offshoot Shiite sect, broke out at dawn after a hand grenade was thrown toward a Sunni area, the state-run National News Agency reported. Tension has been high along Lebanon's religious and political fault lines since the militant Shiite group overran parts of in May in response to government attempts to limit its power.

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More News On Lebanon

North Lebanon battle kills six, wounds 50 -- Reuters
Six killed in intense fighting in north Lebanon -- AFP
Fresh clashes shake Lebanese city -- BBC News

My Comment: Everyone is positioning themselves for the next war. I guess some fingers were itchy today.

Fighting In North Lebanon Ends Short-Lived Truce

Gunmen take cover in Bab Tibbaneh district area during clashes between Sunni Muslim supporters of the government and Alawite gunmen close to the Shi'ite Hezbollah-led opposition in Tripoli, northern Lebanon July 9, 2008. At least two people were killed and 41 wounded on Wednesday in renewed sectarian clashes in Lebanon's second largest city Tripoli, security sources said. REUTERS/Omar Ibrahim (LEBANON)

From International Herald Tribune

BEIRUT: Heavy fighting erupted Wednesday between government supporters and Hezbollah allies in northern Lebanon, killing at least four people and shattering a fragile truce that had lasted just two weeks, security officials said.

More than 50 people were wounded, including five Lebanese soldiers, in clashes that the officials said began overnight when three hand grenades exploded in a street separating rival districts in Tripoli, the second-largest city in Lebanon after Beirut.

The sound of automatic-weapon fire and rocket-propelled grenades rattled for hours through the two neighborhoods: one Sunni Muslim, comprising mainly government supporters, and the other Alawite, a small offshoot of Shiite Islam, allied with Syria and the Lebanese opposition.

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More News On Lebanon:

4 killed in Lebanon clashes -- Yahoo News
Pro and anti-government factions battle in Lebanon's north, killing four -- Yahoo News
Four killed, 54 wounded in N Lebanon clashes -- China View

My Comment: This is going to be the case for the entire summer.

No Peace In Lebanon

Lebanese Soldiers In Tripoli

From Commentary Magazine:

You aren’t hearing about it in the Western media, but the truce agreement reached last month in Doha, Qatar, between the Lebanese government and the Hezbollah-led opposition is no more operative than the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Fighting broke out in the northern city of Tripoli between Sunni supporters of the “March 14” majority bloc in parliament and gunmen from the Alawite sect loyal to the Syrian Baath regime and Hezbollah. We’re not talking about street brawling here. Machine guns, mortars, and rocket-propelled grenades were deployed. Several houses and a gas station were burned to the ground. Ten people were killed and at least 52 people were wounded.

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News on Lebanon From Other Sources:
Lebanese leader: country nearing self-destruction -- Yahoo News
Can Lebanon douse political fires? -- Christian Science Monitor
Death toll from unrest in north Lebanon rises to nine -- AFP
Factions meeting in Tripoli stress need for army to take charge -- Daily Star
Lebanese factions declare ceasefire -- Al Jazeera

My Comment: A good percentage of the Lebanese population want (so it appears) to have a fight. This has a very good chance of becoming a very hot summer.

Fighting Rages In North Lebanon For Second Day

Smoke billows following clashes between Sunni Muslim government supporters and Alawite opposition supporters in the northern city of Tripoli, Lebanon, Monday, June 23, 2008.

From MSNBC:

TRIPOLI, Lebanon - Sectarian fighting raged for a second day in north Lebanon on Monday, further denting a Qatari-brokered deal to end the country's political crisis.

Security sources said six people have been killed and 48 wounded in the clashes in Tripoli, Lebanon's second largest city.

The fighting, which broke out at dawn on Sunday, continued on the outskirts of the mainly Sunni Muslim port city despite a cease-fire agreement between Sunni supporters of the government and Alawite gunmen close to the Hezbollah-led opposition.

Read more ....

News On Lebanon Fighting From Other Sources:
Faction fighting continues in northern Lebanon -- Yahoo News
Clashes erupt in Lebanon despite political deal -- CBC
Soldiers aim to end Tripoli clashes -- Press Association
Lebanese troops end two days of clashes in north -- Reuters UK
Deadly clashes end Lebanese peace deal -- Sydney Morning Herald
Lebanon peace deal in jeopardy -- The Age
Clashes rock north Lebanon city -- BBC News

My Comment: Hezbollah has no interest to placate or discuss compromises with the rest of Lebanon. Expect more deadly clashes this summer.

War News Updates For May 14, 2008

AFGHANISTAN

Report From Afghanistan: Taliban Moving At Half Speed This Year -- Strategy Page

Taliban resisting southern Afghan operation: US Marines -- Yahoo News

13 Taliban, 2 police killed in clashes in southern Afghanistan -- International Herald Tribune

US helicopter 'downed by Taleban' -- BBC News

Afghans to ask for $50 bln aid at Paris conference -- Reuters

Afghan teacher killed after speech condemning suicide bombings -- International Herald Tribune

Suspected U.S. Missile Kills 7 In Pakistan: Taliban -- Reuters

NATO cites concern over Pakistan border deals -- Reuters

Taliban invite Pak govt, military, people to join hands against US -- Daily Times

Pakistan violates truce with India, fires at Indian troopers -- Kuna Times


IRAQ

Girl, 8, 'kills Iraqi officer in suicide mission' -- Telegraph

Girl carrying explosives blown up in Baghdad 'suicide attack' -- Guardian

Bombing at Iraq funeral kills 20 -- BBC News

Assessing the Risks of Turkish Raids in Northern Iraq -- Counter Terrorism Blog

In spite of truce, war over wall goes on in Sadr city -- International Herald Tribune

Updates On The War In Iraq 05_14_08, Sadr City Residents Battle The Iranian-Backed Mahdi Army -- Strata-Sphere

The Post-Basra Realities On Iraq -- Strata-Sphere

Al-Sadr ceasefire allows troops to enter Shia slum -- Independent

Iraq in new assault on Al-Qaeda in main northern city -- Yahoo News

'Ghost city' Mosul braces for assault on last bastion of al-Qa'ida in Iraq -- Independent

Iraq PM in Mosul for offensive against al Qaeda -- Reuters

HUSAYN'S STORY: A report from Iraq -- Arggghhh!!!

Commander Says al-Qaida ‘Virtually Destroyed’ in Kirkuk -- Operation Iraqi Freedom

A Commentary On Iraq -- Villainous Company


LEBANON

Lebanon officials reverse decisions that set off violence -- CNN News

Lebanon cancels anti-Hezbollah measures -- Reuters

Lebanon cancels anti-Hezbollah measures -- Yahoo News

Lebanon cabinet concedes key demand for end to clashes -- Yahoo News

Violence grips Lebanese city as peace talks loom -- Independent

Army ups Beirut presence -- Washington Times

Commentary On Lebanon: Another stupid "victory" -- From Beirut To The Beltway

Commentary: Hezbollah's Third Botched Coup Attempt -- Middle East Journal

Commentary: Iran Behind Beirut Takeover, Eyes Israel -- Cedars Revolution

Lebanon: Civil Strife -- Global Voices Online


ISRAEL

Rocket hits as Bush begins Israel visit -- International Herald Tribune

Gaza Rocket Rocks Bush's Israel Trip -- Time magazine

14 hurt as rocket hits Israeli shopping mall -- Guardian


CHAD / SUDAN / DARFUR

Chad urges world to make Sudan 'see reason' on Darfur -- yahoo News

Rebel raid prompts Sudan to break off Chad relations -- Independnet

UN evacuates staff amid clashes in Sudan flashpoint -- Yahoo News

Clashes break out in Sudan's Abyei region -- Reuters

Lebanon Faces Civil War If Crisis Unchecked: France

France is worried that thing are spiraling out of control.
Robert Fisk from the Independent adds to this discussion.