Assad’s brother-in-law Assef Shawkat confirmed dead

The brother-in-law of Syrian President Bashir al-Assad, who also is the troubled nation’s former intelligence chief, is dead after an apparent assassination attack Sunday in Damascus, Syrian opposition leaders tell U.S. News & World Report.
The Free Syrian Army, an armed opposition group that has been fighting Assad’s military for months, said Sunday it had killed six senior members of Assad’s cabinet. (more…)

How Lebanon is Threatened by Syria’s Rebellion

An uneasy, fragile calm returned to the Lebanese capital Beirut and the northern city of Tripoli on Monday, a day after the worst clashes between pro- and anti-Syrian Lebanese factions since 2008. The violence erupted after the killing of a prominent anti-Syrian Sunni cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Wahed, (more…)

Beirut tense after violent clashes linked to Syrian unrest

Lebanon’s capital was badly shaken Monday after a night of fighting in which factions for and against the embattled president of neighboring Syria clashed, stoking fears that Syrian unrest could spark serious violence here.
(more…)

Thousands attend the funeral of killed Lebanese cleric

Mourners fired guns in the air as thousands poured into the streets Monday in northern Lebanon for the funeral of a Sunni Muslim cleric, whose killing sparked intense clashes in Beirut and raised fears the crisis in Syria was spilling across the border. (more…)

Berjawi: No one can force us out of Tariq al-Jedideh

Arab Movement Party leader Shaker al-Berjawi said on Monday that “no one can force us out of Tariq al-Jedideh,” a day after clashes in the Beirut neighborhood left two people dead and 18 wounded. (more…)

Army tanks on Beirut streets after clashes over Syria

A  tense calm prevailed Monday across the Lebanese capital following overnight clashes between pro and anti-Syrian Sunni-Muslim groups, which left two people dead and 18 injured, the state-run Lebanese News agency said.

Troops backed by tanks were deployed across the city (more…)

9 wounded in Beirut protests against murder of cleric

Protesters blocked several roads on Sunday all across Lebanon, including the capital Beirut, to to protest against the murder of Sheikh Ahmed Abdel Wahid.

Sheikh Abdel Wahid was killed at an army checkpoint in the Akkar town of al-Kweikhat on Sunday . (more…)

Lebanon PM rules out resignation for now

Following a security meeting at the Grand Serail , Lebanese PM Nagib Mikati ruled out resignation for now . ” The time now is to accept responsibility and not to quit”, he told reporters after the meeting that he chaired to discuss the security measures after the murder on Sunday of Sunni cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Wahid. (more…)

Druze Sheikh Akl condemns murder of Sunni cleric

Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Akl Naim Hassan condemned the murder of Sunni cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Wahid on Sunday, National News Agency reported.

“ I call on everyone to practice self-restraint , calm down and be [wise],” NNA quoted Hassan as saying.
Hassan offered his condolences to Dar el Fatwa , called for punishing the perpetrators “no matter who they are,” and urged the Lebanese army (more…)

Akkar Muslim clerics call for a strike on Monday

The muftis and clerics of Akkar on Sunday called for a general strike across Lebanon to protest against the killing on Sunday of Sheikh Ahmed Abdel Wahid at an army checkpoint in the Akkar town of al-Kweikhat. (more…)