Tripoli: Saturday is the Countdown to Zero

Taha Hussein

"Saturday is the countdown to zero."

A phrase that has spread like raging fire this week in Tripoli. The Bab al-Tabbaneh-Jabal Mohsen axis, where bombs and dispersed firing were a part of the Tripoli scene for more than two months, is now beginning a new round of bloodshed and mayhem.

An incident in the governmental hospital took on a sectarian façade, just enough to awaken guns and pre-prepared mounds. Wednesday night refused to pass without victims; hence Talal Ajaya of Jabal Mohsen fell.
It is not an extraordinary phenomenon for parties to accurately specify the date of clashes to be occurred, since most citizens of Tripoli knew of previous rounds of battle before their occurrence. However, the dark ambiance in Tripoli today seems much gloomier and dimmer, and warns of a devastating fight that surpasses all expectations the murderous plotters hoped for.

Bystanders on the Tripoli file unanimously agreed that the next round will differ from its previous others on many scales. Some argued that this battle will not end in days and will not be narrowed to Tripoli only. These fears are not based on political analyses, but on evidences that drove Rifaat Eid, political affairs official in the Arab Democratic Party, to release consecutive statements warning of the approaching danger.

Moreover, a field source had told al-Ahed News that a weapon dealer had supplied 106 gauges machine gun ammunition for armed groups in Bab al-Tabaneh.
The source indicated that "when ammunition is ordered, then the machine gun is already supplied," underscoring that the order was specialized for local Tripoli use only.
The source further noted that the weapon trade traffic significantly increased during the past couple of months quantitatively and qualitatively.
The weapon traffic is not the only indication; the pace and level of public and secretive meetings between the armed groups were somewhat attention-grabbing. More than 10 meetings during the past two weeks were held, chiefly al-Baddawi meet (07/03/2013), al-Rashwani Mosque meet in Bab al-Tabaneh (13/03/2013), Hamza Mosque meet (15/03/2013), and a meeting in Sheik Salem al-Rafeii's residence (18/03/2013).

On this note, meetings mostly focused on the necessity of uniting forces for a battle finale with Jabal Mohsen. The clauses of the meetings did not only deliberate general matters, but went into thorough details of the upcoming battle regarding deployment and weapon distribution.

Furthermore, a source up-to-date with events reiterated that the meetings confirmed the necessity of efficiently benefiting from al-Baddawi axis, controlled by Hajj Amer Arish. Focusing on the saeed axis is not only due to the qualitative and quantitative weaponry of Areesh and his armed men, but also to the geographic site the region is known by and concerns of support from Akkar, supervised by Rabee, MP Khaled Daher's brother.
Sources told al-Ahed that the extremist armed groups close in on different battlefields. Extremists are also working with distinctive skill to overpower everyone without provoking or enraging anyone.

Info also indicated direct intervention of al-Nusra Front and a number of so-called "Free Syrian Army" brigades to be deployed in the battlefield. Intelligence from Tripoli showed increasing activity of three members reporting to a man of an Arab nationality living in Abu Samra. The said members transfer money and coordinate with a number of groups in the name of al-Qaeda-affiliated "al-Nusra Front".
All indications that spectators present of the battle's danger is acknowledged by official authorities. They stressed that this is not a secret and most security, political, and field bystanders in the city know of these signs.

Some even hint that some elements of security institutions connive with the armed groups.

A bystander pointed out to an incident that happened around a week ago in al-Baddawi area. The field activist stated that a vehicle of the Lebanese Army stopped at a place and a number of soldiers got out to fixate mounds in the premises. The Army's activity drove Amer Arish to intervene and refuse the vehicle being localized there. After swift phone calls, the matter was settled, and the vehicle went back to where it came from!

Houssam al-Sabbagh, one of the distinctive extremist figures wanted on many charges, is clearly moving in the perimeter of his residence. His armed men are being deployed publically and freely. Some even established public checkpoints at night inspecting IDs of passers-by, as had happened near Sheikh Salem al-Rifaii's house on Monday.
Wednesday's events do not call for a fight. However, it is merely a drop in the bucket of negligence, provocation, and greed.
A gloomy storm looms in Tripoli's skies that will bring about more bloodshed and danger. Officials there must be fully aware that this storm may not differentiate between their mansions and the poor homes of their voters.

Source: al-Ahed News, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org