Thousands of people flee their homes due to fighting in northern Lebanon

(Baonghean.vn) - On Sunday, October 26, the fighting between the Lebanese army and the Islamists that began on Friday forced thousands of people in Tripoli - the second largest city in Lebanon - to leave their homes.

As leaders negotiate a humanitarian ceasefire, the flow of migrants continues and grows to escape the fierce fighting that continues to rage in Tripoli. Many people leave the city to reach relatives or go to school.

Last Friday night, clashes broke out between the army and armed men in the center of Tripoli. The city has seen frequent clashes between Sunni Muslims and the Lebanese army. Sunni Muslims accuse the Lebanese army of collaborating with the Shiite Hezbollah fighters. However, this is said to be the first time the fighting has been so fierce.

On Sunday, October 26, thousands of Lebanese people had to leave their homes in Tripoli, Lebanon to find safe shelter. Photo: Omar Ibrahim

On Sunday, the army fired mortar shells at Bab al-Tebbane, where Islamists have been holding out since Saturday. Since Friday, clashes have left five civilians dead and dozens of homes destroyed. On Sunday alone, three people were killed in bombings.

Four soldiers were killed in an ambush while on patrol north of Tripoli on Sunday afternoon, the army said. The army blamed a “terrorist group” for the ambush. Another soldier was reportedly kidnapped on Sunday in the Bab al-Tebbane area.

Meanwhile, the Al-Nosra Front, a branch of the Al-Qaeda terrorist network in Syria, has threatened to execute a soldier it captured in August if the Lebanese army does not stop its operations in Tripoli. According to a military source, the army will continue its operations in the city until the campaign ends.

Chu Thanh– According to LeMonde October 27