33 Arrested in Tripoli as Troops Continue Implementing Security Plan

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The military institution announced on Wednesday arresting 33 people in the northern city of Tripoli, as troops continued to implement the security plan in the North.

"The army has arrested 33 people, including 14 Syrians,” the military institution said in an evening communique.

The statement added: “15 motorbikes and 10 unlawful cars were also seized, in addition to weapons and ammunition.”

The arrested men as well as the seized vehicles and weapons were handed over to the competent authority, the army added.

Earlier in the day, troops entered the neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh at dawn, as part of the security plan.

The army deployed in the various alleyways of the neighborhood, such as Starco, al-Hamawi, and the grocery market and Syria Street.

It carried out raids and removed various barriers as army helicopters overflew the area, the military said in a communique.

A high-ranking military source told MTV that none of the prominent leaders from the neighborhood will be arrested, but it did expect several suspects to be detained.

The military also set up checkpoints in the northern district of Akkar as part of the security plan, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi told al-Liwaa daily Wednesday that he is in contact with council of Muslim scholars in Tripoli in order to ensure the success of the security plan that kicked off on Tuesday with the army entering the Jabal Mohsen neighborhood.

“We are working for the sake of the city and we will not sacrifice it for various individuals,” he added.

“We must have the courage to describe ourselves as failures should we fail in ensuring the security of Tripoli,” he continued.

“Our residents and children have the right to live in peace and security,” Rifi stressed.

The Army succeeded in arresting 75 suspects on the first day of the security plan, it said in a communique on Tuesday.

They included 27 Syrians and Palestinians.

It also impounded 91 motorcycles and six vehicles, as well as a number of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment.

It raided on Tuesday in the areas of the Hariri project, al-Baqqar, al-Naamani, Hayy al-Tanak, al-Amercan, Bab al-Hadid, internal markets, al-Qobbeh, and Bab al-Ramel.

Last week, the cabinet tasked the army and security forces with seizing stockpiled arms and controlling the security situation in Tripoli and the eastern Bekaa Valley in areas bordering Syria.

The plan took into consideration the recommendations of the Higher Defense Council.

Tripoli witnesses frequent gunbattles between two of the impoverished neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh, which is dominated by Sunnis who support Syrian rebels, and Jabal Mohsen, which is dominated by Alawites, who share the same sect as Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Clashes in Tripoli have left scores of casualties during the last round.

More than 1,400 Internal Security Forces members are cooperating with the army to implement the security plan to restore calm in Tripoli.

The army also raided and searched the house of Arab Democratic Party politburo chief Rifaat Eid in Jabal Mohsen amid reports that he had fled to Syria.

M.T./ S.D.B.

H.K.

Comments 15
Missing patriot10 02 April 2014, 10:58

A high-ranking military source told MTV that none of the prominent leaders from the neighborhood will be arrested, but it did expect several suspects to be detained.

Why? Why not take the evil from the root?
The hole thing is a joke just so the people will leave the politicans alone and you guys are buying this!

Missing helicopter 03 April 2014, 03:12

Remember M8 Cabinet members saying any and all decisions of the Cabinet must be made by consensus? So no need to ask Rifi? You should be able to ask any of your M8 Cabinet members - they all were in on this decision and part of the decision must have been do not mess with the top, only the bottom of the barrel.

Thumb FlameCatcher 03 April 2014, 12:05

@FT : inventing "Bogus reasons" is the profession of Nasrallah and Aoun. No one can even come close ...

Missing cedars 03 April 2014, 14:11

You blamed riffi before he joined the government when M8 and mikati ministers for years failed to stop the violence and now he fixes the security situation and get blamed by your idiotic comments because he is M14 and speaks the truth.
The fact of matter is you keep failing to see the light that M14 ministers do the job versus M8 lying ministers that tell Baabda one thing and then their master in Qordaha tells them to say the opposite.

Thumb thelebpatriot111 02 April 2014, 12:19

God bless our soldiers !!!

Missing helicopter 03 April 2014, 03:14

thelebpatriot,
I am still waiting for your answer. What do you think of HA and Amal legitimizing marital rape?
However I gave you thumb up for saying "God Bless our soldiers"- nice.

Thumb -phoenix1 02 April 2014, 13:10

For Assir, the direction is more like Southwards.

Thumb FlameCatcher 02 April 2014, 13:38

So Southern, this means we can arrest Hassan Nasrallah for the countless crimes committed by his terrorist sheep ?

Yalla, I don't mind, arrest them all and let them rot in jail or be hanged !

Thumb FlameCatcher 03 April 2014, 12:06

Double standard hypocrite !

Default-user-icon Hanoun (Guest) 02 April 2014, 14:08

god bless the reason that permitted the army to apply its plan

Thumb cityboy 02 April 2014, 14:45

Agree or not, but the initiative to pacify Tripoli has been possible because of the success HA has had recently on the syrian side border with lebanon by eliminating the Takfiri threat which would have spread to Tripoli in a flash. The army now has an upper hand when it comes to restoring security to Tripoli.

Missing peace 02 April 2014, 14:58

simplistic analysis... but no surprise...

Missing peace 02 April 2014, 23:16

sure for simple minds it appears brilliant...that is why you easily gob all hezbi propaganda... your mind is a perfect target....

Thumb Mystic 02 April 2014, 16:05

I do not trust Ashraf Rifi with the security. I hope the LAF will be able to stand their ground in both neighbourhoods this time, if they succeed in doing do, then this security plan is a good move.

Thumb Mystic 02 April 2014, 16:06

If the LAF fails to hold the grip on Tripoli. Then all Tripoli is doomed.