Military Clashes Ahmed al-Assir

1 military clashes

1.1 2012 sidon clash
1.2 syrian civil war
1.3 2013 sidon clashes

military clashes

2012 sidon clash

on november 11, 2012, 3 people killed , 4 others wounded after supporters of assir clashed supporters of hezbollah in southern city of sidon. assir stated have blood score settle hezbollah can settled blood , , considered forming armed resistance group defend lebanon israel believed hezbollah s weapons had been pointed internally.

syrian civil war

in april 2013, assir urged followers join syrian rebels claiming there no other choice defend our (sunni) people in syria, , assuring there religious duty on every muslim able so... enter syria in order defend people, mosques , religious shrines, in qusayr , homs, adding fatwa (religious decree) affects all, have military experience. assir announced establishment of free resistance battalions in sidon. such announcements came after there enough evidence hezbollah militias had been involved in syria fighting alongside bashar s army.

assir crossed syrian border of followers combat against syrian government troops , hezbollah fighters near qusayr. footage emerged of assir patrolling in combat gear ak-47, , of him firing machine gun roof.

2013 sidon clashes

in june 2013, clashes broke out in eastern suburb of sidon after several people attacked, threw stones , shattered windows in car belonging assir s brother, amjad al-assir. assir gave hezbollah one-week ultimatum vacate apartments occupied group s supporters in sunni city, clashes broke out gunmen wielding automatic rifles , rocket-propelled grenades. officials stated gunmen fighting assir s followers believed hezbollah sympathizers.

lebanese army troops deployed in area of fighting, subsided after several hours. military called on gunmen loyal assir withdraw streets whilst ignoring presence of hezbollah gunmen.

a group of assir s followers believed stage armed attacks on several civil apartments in saida, reportedly identified hezbollah offices. lebanese saw attacks highlights of series of provocations initiated saudi , qatar-backed sunni fundamentalists whilst many others believed iran real reason provocations.

on june 23, 2013, according news channels loyal hezbollah said 10 lebanese army soldiers killed , 35 wounded in clash armed men loyal assir, in sidon @ army post near abra complex houses bilal bin rabah mosque. other lebanese news channels denied , accused hezbollah militias of being involved. violence started deadly attack on army checkpoint. roads later blocked in other parts of country, , army came under fire in ain el-hilweh camp.

during 23–24 june 2013, heavy street fighting erupted between lebanese army , gunmen loyal assir in sidon accused of provoking attack. sixteen lebanese soldiers, thirteen assir supporters , approximately 4 hezbollah militants killed. bodyguard of cleric, tried reach fighting negotiate ceasefire, died. more 100 lebanese soldiers wounded, 13 pro-assir militants. lebanese army requested country s politicians intervene. on monday june 24, 2013, lebanese army commandos seized complex controlled gunmen loyal assir in southern city of sidon, shortly after fled premises unknown destination.

assir reportedly fled complex @ around 10 a.m., shortly after army stormed premises military gradually gained control on throughout day. sources said soldiers still trading gunfire snipers located on rooftops of nearby buildings. sixty-five gunmen, including several palestinian , syrian refugees, reportedly either surrendered or captured army units during raid on complex. lebanon s military prosecutor issued arrest warrants against assir , 123 of followers. warrants included names of assir s brother, , singer fadl shaker, gave singing career follow sheikh.

the raid on compound @ noon came after attempt group of salafi preachers mediate truce reached dead end, army determined continue operations. there no factual basis claim assir captured , followers crushed. fate remains unknown, however, army treating matter capture or kill operation on basis believe assir killed lebanese soldiers in cold blood , according military statement.