The secretary general of the Democratic Arab Party in Jabal Mohsen, an opposition-aligned group that represents the Alawite sect in Lebanon, Rifaat Ali Eid, said that the fighters in Bab al-Tabbaneh are moving in small groups, “and it is not easy to control them.”

 “We are signing a political agreement with politicians, but those fighting on the ground are other groups who don’t represent the Lebanese army, the ISF, or even the Tripoli mufti,” Eid told Al-Sharq al-Awsat daily, adding that many of the fighters aren’t even from the area.

“Armed groups from outside the region come to Bab al-Tabbaneh, open fire in our direction and leave.”

“The fighting was premeditated given the kind of weapons, their quantity, and the Islamic extremist factions that are joining the fighters,” Eid added.

“Is Fatah al-Islam gone? I doubt it. We think that the army is in big trouble, and God be with it,” he said.

-NOW Staff