The Lebanese army was deployed heavily north to prevent potential conflicts, and security sources told the people on Wednesday after thousands of fleeing Syrian Alawis rekindled tensions across the border.
More than 10,000 members of the Alawian minority who fled sectarian violence in Syria recently moved to Lebanon and settled in the northern region. The situation has raised tensions and caused fear of past conflicts.
Lebanon is now afraid that sectarian violence from Syrian coasts will once again flow into its unstable north, especially in the adjacent Bab al-Mosen districts of Tripoli, in the neighbouring Bab al-Tebubane and Jabal Mosen districts.
About 1,380 civilians, the majority of Alawians, were killed in waves of violence that grabbed Syrian Mediterranean coast, according to War Monitor, a UK-based Syrian human rights observatory. Since rebels took control in December, there have been violent campaigns on Syria’s west coast, with reports of murders targeting members of minority groups and casualties from security forces. The latest attack began last week after two members of both government forces were killed in an ambush.
“Lebanese security forces are being deployed heavily in Tripoli and surrounding areas,” one security source said, “they are focusing on preventing conflicts.” He added: “There is growing fear that the situation could go out of control, but security forces have been able to settle down and prevent surprising clashes.”
Tripoli is home to 200,000 people, 80% of whom are Sunni Muslims, 6-7% Alawians, and the rest of Christians. The residents of Bab al-Tebane supported the uprising against former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while the Jabal Mohsen people supported him. Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in March 2011, the two factions have frequently clashed.
A small, radical Sunni group in Lebanon also sent fighter jets across the border to join the rebels.
The collapse of Syrian forces in December has flooded the area with firearms, allowing Lebanese gun dealers to benefit from purchasing cheap weapons and smuggling them into Lebanon. According to security sources, the price of the AK-47, for example, was around $25. Thousands of weapons are smuggled through illegal border crossings, especially in the north.
When the rebels appeared poised to control Damascus, Lebanon quickly closed all land intersections with Syria, except for the main one that linked Beirut to the Syrian capital. However, many illegal boundary intersections, especially in the north, remain open.
For a long time, Lebanon has struggled with the widespread presence of firearms and weapons. The ruling party facilities, which have been ruled since the Civil War (1975-1990), remain deeply armed. Current and former Tripoli region officials are scheduled to meet on Friday and will discuss ways to ease tensions and prevent further conflict, sources said.