2013 Sidon clash

Part of the Syrian civil war spillover in Lebanon September 2013 2013 Sidon clash the Syrian civil war spillover in Lebanon Sidon 004.jpg 300 23–25 June 2013 (06 23 2013 06 25 2013) Sidon, Lebanon Lebanese Army & Hezbollah victory The Lebanese Army secures the city, militants escapehttp://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2013/Jun-25/221488-mission-accomplished-assir-on-the-run.ashx#axzz2X5c750Ja Mission accomplished, Assir on the run The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon 30 October 2014 11 October 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171011152620/http://www.dailystar.com.lb//News/Politics/2013/Jun-25/221488-mission-accomplished-assir-on-the-run.ashx#axzz2X5c750Ja dead Flag_of_Lebanon.svg Lebanon Lebanese Army Internal Security Forces Hezbollahhttps://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2013/0624/Sunni-cleric-incites-gun-battle-with-Lebanese-Army-and-Hezbollah CS Monitor Nicholas Blanford 24 June 2013 The Christian Science Monitor 30 October 2014http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/06/28/195327/lebanese-army-threatens-media.html#.UflE1I2TiSo McClatchy 30 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140306072600/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/06/28/195327/lebanese-army-threatens-media.html#.UflE1I2TiSo 6 March 2014 dead (Disputed) Lebanese Resistance Brigades Flag of Jihad.svg Al-Assir militants General Jean KahwajiGeneral Chamel Roukoz Ahmed al-Assir 2,000 soldiers 300 fightershttp://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/06/25/194944/al-qaida-linked-nusra-front-rebels.html#.UdBz22JHIpk Al Qaida-linked Nusra Front rebels blamed for bloody fight against Lebanese army in Sidon 30 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141030151822/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/06/25/194944/al-qaida-linked-nusra-front-rebels.html#.UdBz22JHIpk 30 October 2014 dead Lebanese Army:18 killedit cost the army the lives of 18 soldiers https://web.archive.org/web/20151023143154/http://www.executive-magazine.com/opinion/comment/lebanon-army-leadership October 23, 2015 100–128 wounded4 vehicles damaged Al-Assir militants:25–40 killed60 wounded65–70 captured 2 civilians killed50 people killed overallhttp://zeenews.india.com/news/world/un-says-syria-conflict-makes-impact-on-lebanon_857803.html UN says Syria conflict makes 'impact' on Lebanon Zee News 30 October 2014 The June 2013 Sidon clash in June 2013 was part of the Syrian civil war spillover in Lebanon, and involved the Lebanese Army, Hezbollah militants, and Sunni militants in the city of Sidon, Lebanon. Clashes between the followers of Ahmed al-Assir resulted in the deaths of 18 soldiers, 25–40 al-Assir gunmen, two civilians, and according to some sources, four Hezbollah fighters.http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2013/Jun-24/221395-fierce-clashes-rock-south-lebanon-city-for-second-day.ashx#ixzz2X8xHbYVw Lebanese Army storms Assir complex, preacher flees The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon 30 October 2014 28 April 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190428033801/http://www.dailystar.com.lb//News/Local-News/2013/Jun-24/221395-fierce-clashes-rock-south-lebanon-city-for-second-day.ashx#ixzz2X8xHbYVw dead The clashes were the deadliest since the Syria-related internal conflict in Lebanon began in 2011.http://www.trust.org/item/20130624230100-g8f2k/?source=hptop Lebanon faces tumult after deadliest Syria-related clashes 30 October 2014 30 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141030175632/http://www.trust.org/item/20130624230100-g8f2k/?source=hptop dead Background The Syrian civil war has heightened sectarian tensions within Lebanon, particularly between Sunni and Shia Muslims, many of whom support opposing sides and have entered the conflict in large numbers. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah announced on 25 May that Hezbollah would openly support President Bashar al-Assad's forces in fighting the insurgency in Syria. Some Sunni leaders in Lebanon have likewise at various points in time called for Jihad against the Assad government in Syria, and urged the Lebanese to join.http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/80563 Mustaqbal Rejects Calls for Jihad in Syria, Urges Hizbullah to Withdraw Fighters Naharnet 30 October 2014http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/80623 Asir Rejects to Withdraw Jihad Call, Urges Clerics to Support Fatwa Naharnet 30 October 2014 In June 2013, clashes broke out in an eastern suburb of Sidon after several people attacked, threw stones at, and shattered the windows of, a car belonging to Amjad al-Assir, the brother of Hezbollah critic and hard-line cleric Sheik Ahmad al-Assir. Al-Assir then gave Hezbollah a one-week ultimatum to vacate apartments occupied by the group's supporters in the mostly Sunni city. Clashes broke out between gunmen backing Hezbollah and Sheik al-Assir, both sides wielding automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. Officials stated that the gunmen fighting al-Assir's followers were believed to be Hezbollah sympathizers. Lebanese army troops deployed in the area of the fighting, which subsided after several hours. The military called on gunmen to withdraw immediately from the streets. Fighting On 23 June 2013, heavy street fighting erupted between the Lebanese Army, with Hezbollah military backing,Sunnis v Shias, here and there https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2013/06/29/sunnis-v-shias-here-and-there 2024-04-24 The Economist 0013-0613 and gunmen loyal to al-Assir, with a clash at an Army checkpoint near the Abra complex that houses the Bilal bin Rabah Mosque.http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/87915-10-troops-martyred-in-clashes-with-al-asir-s-gunmen-in-abra 10 Troops Martyred in Clashes with al-Asir's Gunmen in Abra — Naharnet Naharnet.com 2013-06-24 McClatchy News and The Times of London reported that Hezbollah forces backed the army. Roads were later blocked in other parts of the country, and the army came under fire in the Ain el-Hilweh camp. The next day, the Lebanese army launched a crackdown on the pro-Assir militia attacking houses near his mosque in Sidon from which Assir operates. At least four tanks and several army vehicles were destroyed. Lebanese Army commandos seized a complex controlled by gunmen loyal to Sheikh Ahmad Assir. Assir reportedly fled the complex at around 10 a.m., shortly after the Army stormed the premises which the military gradually gained control over throughout the day. Twenty-two bodies were pulled out of Assir's mosque after the Army captured it. Sources said soldiers were still trading gunfire with snipers located on the rooftops of nearby buildings. Ahmed al-Assir was still at large with the Army having orders to capture or kill him after he was accused of killing soldiers in "cold blood". Sixty-five to 70 gunmen, including several non-Lebanese nationals, reportedly either surrendered or were captured by Army units during the raid on the complex. Lebanon's military prosecutor issued arrest warrants against Assir and 123 of his followers. The warrants included the names of Assir's brother, and singer Fadl Shaker, who gave up his singing career to follow al-Assir.http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-syria-crisis-lebanon-idUKBRE95N0H120130624 https://web.archive.org/web/20160306154210/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-syria-crisis-lebanon-idUKBRE95N0H120130624 dead March 6, 2016 Lebanese army storms Islamist mosque as Syria crisis spreads 30 October 2014 Reuters Oliver Holmes 24 June 2013http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2013/Jun-24/221395-fierce-clashes-rock-south-lebanon-city-for-second-day.ashx#ixzz2X9bBrhZD Lebanese Army storms Assir complex, preacher flees The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon 30 October 2014 28 April 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190428033801/http://www.dailystar.com.lb//News/Local-News/2013/Jun-24/221395-fierce-clashes-rock-south-lebanon-city-for-second-day.ashx#ixzz2X9bBrhZD dead The raid on the compound at noon came after an attempt by a group of Salafi preachers to mediate a truce reached a dead end, with the Army determined to continue its operations until Assir was captured and his followers crushed, the sources said.http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2013/Jun-24/221395-fierce-clashes-rock-south-lebanon-city-for-second-day.ashx#ixzz2X9bBrhZD https://web.archive.org/web/20190428033801/http://www.dailystar.com.lb//News/Local-News/2013/Jun-24/221395-fierce-clashes-rock-south-lebanon-city-for-second-day.ashx#ixzz2X9bBrhZD 2019-04-28 The Daily Star Some sources claimed Hezbollah fighters had backed the Lebanese Army, but this was strongly denied by Lebanese Defence Minister Fayez Ghosn, who insisted the army fought alone.http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon-defense-minister-army-fought-alone-against-assir Lebanon Defense Minister: The Army Fought Alone Against Assir Al Akhbar English 30 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20130703142240/http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon-defense-minister-army-fought-alone-against-assir 3 July 2013 dead Overall, at least 50 people died during the fighting. Seventeen to 18 soldiers, 25–40 militantshttps://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/12-soldiers-killed-in-second-day-of-clashes-in-lebanon-1.531689 https://web.archive.org/web/20130624234404/http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/12-soldiers-killed-in-second-day-of-clashes-in-lebanon-1.531689 dead June 24, 2013 Lebanese army storms Islamist mosque as Syria crisis spreads - 16 soldiers killed 24 June 2013 Haaretz.com 30 October 2014 and reportedly four Hezbollah fighters were killed. Two civilians were killed, including a bodyguard of a cleric who tried to reach the fighting to negotiate a ceasefire.http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/74788/World/Region/-troops-killed-in-Lebanon-clashes-with-Sunni-radic.aspx 12 troops killed in Lebanon clashes with Sunni radicals 30 October 2014 One hundred to 128 Lebanese soldiers, 60 pro-Assir militants, over 50 civilians and reportedly 15 Hezbollah fighters were wounded. Aftermath Partly as a result of Assir's calls for help while holed up in his mosque in Sidon, thousands of youths in the outskirts of a slum in Cairo, Egypt attacked a Shia gathering there and killed its leader and three of his followers. Assir denounced the army as Shia stooges and urged soldiers to defect from the Lebanese army and join him, but this was condemned by the grand mufti of Lebanon.http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/88025 Qabbani Rejects Army Defection Calls, Warns Sidon Incident Boosts Sedition Naharnet 30 October 2014 After McClatchy News and The Times of London reported that the Lebanese Army had fought alongside Hezbollah in the battle, the Army threatened legal action against news institutions that made such reports. Shortly after those threats, video of Hezbollah fighting alongside the Army was broadcast on Lebanese television. The Army also came under fire from human rights activists for the videotaped beating of one detainee from the battle and the death during questioning of a second arrestee. On 4 October 2025, Chaker, who went into hiding after being accused of incitement during the clash, surrendered to Lebanese military intelligence in Ain al-Hilweh.Pop star turned militant Fadel Shaker surrenders to Lebanese military https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-shaker-singer-surrenders-sidon-military-intelligence-178a0d28df96d69639b2eea491dc5ff3 16 September 2025 AP News See also Lebanon Politics Asia List of wars involving Lebanon 3rd Infantry Brigade (Lebanon) References 2 Lebanon Category:2013 in Lebanon Category:Battles involving Lebanon Category:Syrian civil war spillover in Lebanon Category:June 2013 in Lebanon