Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli is on alert in the wake of Saturday’s clashes, which almost developed into broad sectarian confrontations after the spread of insulting videos that provoked the Sunni community.
Since Saturday, the city saw anti-Hezbollah protests and slogans against the party’s secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, which could herald an escalation of an underlying sectarian rift.
Former MP Mustafa Alloush, a member of Al-Mustaqbal party, expressed fear that some people would take advantage of the situation to instigate security problems in the city.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Alloush said: “Small extremist groups may take advantage of the lack of wise leaders in the Sunni community in Lebanon in general and Tripoli in particular, to instigate security incidents.”
“What is happening today is an aspect of the ongoing civil war, which started in Lebanon - albeit sporadically - since 2005, when they decided to assassinate Prime Minister Rafik Hariri,” he noted.
According to Alloush, Hezbollah could be behind the recent tension that occurred on the background of provocative religious slogans, but he stressed that the party was the “first beneficiary of what is happening.”
“[Hezbollah] is suffering at this stage from a crisis within its own environment, as a result of difficult social and economic conditions, and therefore it is in its interest to lure others to justify its practices…and gain its community’s support,” He underlined.
Warning that some parties would take advantage of the absence of Sunni leaders, Alloush feared that Tripoli would enter into open chaos as a result of increasing poverty, which could lead to the outbreak of violence.
The head of Tripoli’s municipality, Riad Yamak, described the situation as “uncomfortable, both at the security and social levels.”
“Neglect, poverty and unemployment makes the city vulnerable to violence,” he warned.
