Lebanese army beefs up presence in Tripoli

The Lebanese army deployed more troops in the northern city of Tripoli Sunday night to control the traditional flashpoints between the neighborhoods of Bab Al-Tabbana and Jabal Mohsen. The move followed sporadic fighting between gunmen from the two communities which left dozens of casualties over the last two days, local media reported. The armed forces responded to the sources of gunfire in a bid to silence them which sent a reassuring message to local residents. The army also intensified the patrolling of the streets and made incursions into the suspected militant hotbeds. The sectarian fighting broke out between pro-, and anti-, Syria fighters in the city two days ago after several residents of the city were ambushed and killed by the Syrian regular forces in Talkalakh town, near the borders with Lebanon.