LEBANON: Beirut cleans up in aftermath of clashes between Hezbollah and Sunni al-Ahbash that left two dead and several wounded

Record ID: 165718

Additional media

  • Title: LEBANON: Beirut cleans up in aftermath of clashes between Hezbollah and Sunni al-Ahbash that left two dead and several wounded
  • Date: 26th August 2010
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPER HEADLINE CARRYING PICTURES OF TUESDAY NIGHT'S CLASHES (5 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 10th September 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon
  • City:
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAA9IGM86M89TMXZIGA29UZRZPB
  • Story Text: Lebanese cleared on Wednesday (August 25) the damage caused to their property and vehicles in an area that witnessed several hours of clashes between Hezbollah and Sunni militants which both sides later said was an individual incident that had no sectarian or political motives.
    The clash in Burj Abi Haidar left one dead from either side and increased tensions in mixed faith districts in Beirut.
    Security sources said the clashes were sparked by a fight between a supporter of Hezbollah and another from the Sunni al-Ahbash group in the neighbourhood of Burj Abi Haidar. It then escalated into clashes with machine guns and rocket propelled grenades.
    The clashes ended after the army deployed in the area. The two groups said in a joint statement that there was "no political or sectarian background" behind the clashes. "(We) stress that this was an individual unfortunate incident".
    Two residents of the area who preferred not to give their names said they were shocked.
    ''We were preparing for breaking the fast when we heard the gunfire, we thought it was fire crackers. And then it got stronger and they started firing rockets,'' said one woman who had to spend the night in the staircase of her building and found out the next morning that her car had been damaged.
    ''I expected anything but to have two allies start killing each other. It is very unfortunate that no one is working for the benefit of Lebanon. Every side is working for its own advantage. It is a pity, they are fighting as if Israel is on the ground here,'' said another man.
    The clashes reflected Lebanon's fragile security situation and increased sectarian tension. Sunnis form one of Lebanon's main communities, along with Shi'ites and Christians. Sectarian tension ran high after the assassination in 2005 of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, the Sunni's acknowledged national leader.
    In 2008 a political crisis led to street fighting between Hezbollah and supporters of Hariri, in a brief echo of Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war.
    Tension re-ignited last month after Hezbollah strongly criticised a U.N. tribunal investigating the killing of Hariri and said that the prosecutor's first indictment, expected to be issued in September or October, will blame some of its members. Hezbollah denies any link to the 2005 killing.
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