Vendors and shops along one of Tripoli city's streets. (Credit: Sandrine Frem)
BEIRUT — "We are taking the necessary measures to prevent things from getting out of control in Tripoli," a Lebanese Army source told L'Orient Today on Monday, following a weekend of heightened tensions in North Lebanon’s largest city. The unrest came as refugees — mainly from the Alawite community — fled escalating violence in Syria’s coastal regions.
"In principle, the situation is under control," the army source added, as Lebanese authorities fear renewed violence following recent fighting between Syria’s new leadership and Assad loyalists.
According to figures from the Akkar governorate and local municipalities, more than 10,000 Syrians crossed into northern Lebanon over the weekend, fleeing the deadly clashes that killed at least 973 civilians, in less than four days.
On Saturday evening, tensions flared in the village of Qibbeh (Tripoli) after a young man from the predominantly Alawite neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen stabbed a minor, who was believed to be a Syrian national from Idlib, but was later revealed to be Lebanese, according to local media
The unrest spread to the nearby neighborhoods in Qibbeh, Bakar, and Bab al-Tabbaneh, where gunfire was heard, prompting the Lebanese Army to deploy heavily on Syria Street between the traditionally rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh — predominantly Sunni — and Jabal Mohsen in efforts to restore calm.
In response, the Alawite Islamic Council announced Sunday evening that the suspect had agreed to surrender to authorities after security forces requested his handover. "We contacted him, and he responded favorably to this request," the council said in a statement.
An Internal Security Forces (ISF) source told L'Orient Today that "the necessary security measures have been taken," adding that tensions had eased on Monday and that authorities were closely monitoring the situation. No further details were provided.
Tripoli MP Ashraf Rifi quickly intervened and told news outlet Nida al-Watan on Tuesday that "steps to contain the crisis have been taken, the most important of which was the swift action of the Lebanese Army and intelligence personnel to restore order."
"Perhaps the contributing factor was also the rapid failure of the attempted coup in Syria," he added.
For years — intensifying since Syria’s Civil War began in 2011 — tensions have simmered between Alawites in Jabal Mohsen, who support the ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad, and residents of the predominantly Sunni Bab al-Tabbaneh, who back the Syrian opposition and rebel groups. In April 2024, former Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi implemented a security plan aimed at ending the deadly clashes between the two.
Banned from public spaces in the city center
Riad Yamak, the head of the municipality of Tripoli, told L'Orient Today that he is liaising with the Governor of the North, Judge Ramzi Nohra, in coordination with the ISF, to ensure that the security situation in Tripoli remains stable despite the ongoing situation in Syria.
While "only the ones with family members here in Tripoli arrived in the city center," Yamak said that Syrian displaced persons would not be allowed to remain in public spaces, a measure meant to maintain security. However, no formal circulars were issued on the matter.
"We need to have a more detailed plan because we cannot predict or know what will happen," he added.
Yamak also said he had reached out to local authorities in Akkar and Jabal Mohsen to explore ways to assist the displaced, noting that further coordination with the governor might be required.
"If the number of displaced people rises significantly, we won’t be able to accommodate them in schools," he said. "We may have to rely on public halls and charities to help them. If the displaced provide their names and contact details, we will coordinate with the governor to ensure they receive the help they need."
A report by the Disaster and Crisis Management Chamber, chaired by Akkar Governor Imad Labaki, found that 7,616 people — from 1,777 families, the majority Alawite — have arrived in Akkar since Thursday, many crossing the Nahr al-Kabir on foot, a river that serves as a border demarcation between Lebanon and Syria in certain areas.
The influx of refugees comes amid heightened security measures in Tripoli. At the direction of Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar and ISF Director General Imad Osman, police recently implemented a comprehensive security plan for Ramadan, which includes roadblocks and increased motorized and foot patrols across the city.
Reporting contributed by L'Orient Today's correspondent in the North, Michel Hallak