DAILY SCOPE: Army Restores Tripoli

Local Editor

The Lebanese arena, particularly the North, witnesses a new accomplishment for the army, which was able to fend off the terrorists and uproot them from Tripoli.

Yet, officials say that the battle is not over as the army has to maintain this accomplishment. Future movement rumors have circulated on the army's compromise with the terrorists, yet officials from the March 14 camp have denied such a claim. The army also thwarted two terrorist attacks in the Southern city of Saida; which were to be conducted by a terrorist cell belonging to Ahmad al-Asir who is in hide. Berri assures that the army has accomplished an achievement, and underlines it is strong but lacks equipment.

AL-AKHBAR:

"Rumors and Denials: The Army Stopped the Battle in Tripoli"

The clashes stopped in Tripoli and the North. The armed groups disappeared and were not arrested or crushed. According to al-Akhbar, the extremists of "al-Nusra front" and "Daesh" were divided into two groups; one had escaped from Tripoli to nearby areas (Security sources had said part of them had fled to Doniyeh environs) while the members of the second group remained in Tripoli.

Political and security figures said there has been a settlement between the army and the extremist terrorists, yet the Lebanese Army directorate denied it. In less than two hours following the army communiqué on the ongoing army confrontation with the terrorists, which the Lebanese Army Leadership assured will continue until the armed terrorists are either killed or arrested, the clashes stopped.

With more talk emerging from Future Bloc politicians that the army had compromised for a settlement with these groups, ministerial sources belonging to the March 14 camp denied that. The source said that the army took a decisive decision to stop the fights. The source also noted that the end of the battle might have two reasons: either that the army considers it has done all it can, yet taking into consideration that it has to preserve the souls of the civilians as well as their property, or that the army considers it has achieved the goals of the military operation it has conducted.

Moreover, the sources underscored that the cessation of the fighting now does not mean the war has come to an end, but rather this was "the end of the round".
Political sources from Tripoli told al-Akhbar newspaper that Lebanese PM Mikati has contacted one of the clerics in the region, who in his turn contacted the terrorist groups and convinced them to leave the markets (souk) where had settled during the clashes.

The rumors say that Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi was the one behind the settlement which was based on the ceasefire and termination of fighting in Tabbeneh, and the terrorists leaving Tripoli.

"Washington Concerned About Supporting LA?!"

US officials have assured, in the presence of Lebanese figures that, "The only issue that concerns Washington in Lebanon is the security file and supporting the army."

Among the messages the US has sent back with the Lebanese officials (messages directed to the party they belong to) was that the ‘Lebanese have to elect a president, whoever that is. What matters is that the presidential void be filled by any means possible."

The US officials assured to their Lebanese ‘guests' there has been no "regional-international decision to appease the situation in Lebanon, that the situation in the country can explode at any time where Lebanon would become another Iraq or Syria."

Moreover, a US senior official was quoted as saying to his Lebanese guest, "You are failures in politics, and do not know how to manage your affairs." The American official also noted that the US is busy dealing with the situations in Iraq and Syria, as well as its own internal woes which impedes the US from "playing the game in the region as should, or as it used to."

As for the presidential candidate, the official said the US has a major problem with ‘General Michel Aoun' [Head of the Change and Reform Block] since he enjoys "strong relations with Hizbullah".

AS-SAFIR:

"Army Wins Battle in Tripoli"

The Lebanese army has resized the politicians who have made "an army compromise with the terrorists" the talk of the town.

At the same time the army was able to have the upper hand in Tripoli, the army intelligence in Sidon was able to thwart two terrorist attempts to attack the "Fatima al-Zahraa complex" and the Army intelligence post in the city.

Well-informed security sources told As-Safir newspaper that a terrorist cell belonging to Sheikh Ahmad al-Asir, who is in hide, made up of one Lebanese from al-Salman family and three Syrians are behind this scheme. The army has been conducting raids in the old markets of Saida, in an attempt to capture the wanted terrorists. Also, the sources disclosed that a Palestinian national, who is connected to one of the cell members surrendered to the Army.

The army also confiscated RBG missiles and explosives, and declared that the plan was to conduct the two attacks at 4:00 am, where the terrorists would conduct their terrorist act in groups of two.

Also, during a meeting with the US ambassador David Hail, Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri said that the army has achieved a success in uprooting the terrorist groups from Tripoli without negotiations or compromise. Berri had also pointed out that the Lebanese army is one of the strongest armies in the region but lacks arms and equipment.