Child Killed, 10 Wounded in Tripoli Clashes

A child was killed on Thursday in clashes that erupted in the northern city of Tripoli after the death of a local from injuries he sustained during a shooting in the morning, reported the National News Agency.

It said that Walid Barhoum died after he was shot at three times in the city earlier on Thursday.

MTV reported that Barhoum, a Sunni, is married to a Alawite and they both reside in Tripoli's Jabal Mohsen neighborhood.

Arab Democratic Party politburo chief Rifaat Eid told LBCI television that the targeting of the Alawite sect in Tripoli “is a mark of shame on the foreheads of every politician and security official.”

Over 22 assaults have taken place against residents of Jabal Mohsen, that has a majority Alawite population, prompting Human Rights Watch to issue a warning over the issue.

Soon after the news of Barhoum's death broke out, gunshots were heard in the rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen.

A ten-year-old girl, Fatima al-Ashi, was killed in the ensuing clashes.

Ten people were also wounded in the unrest.

The army has since responded to the sources of the gunshots and deployed heavily in the area.

Machinegun clashes erupted on the frontiers of Bab al-Tabbaneh, al-Riva and Jabal Mohsen while three shells have been fired until the moment, reported Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5).

It later said that sniper gunshots are targeting the al-Mallouleh area.

VDL (93.3) said that Salah Mishhawi, Huzaifa al-Ali, and Abou Ali Sahyouni were wounded in the clashes.

Clashes between Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen have increased in frequency in recent years as a result of the eruption of the uprising in neighboring Syria.

The Bab al-Tabbaneh area backs the revolt, while the Jabal Mohsen residents support the Syrian regime.