Social Media Monitor: Syrians React to Lebanon Clashes

Clashes erupted on Sunday, June 23 between militants loyal to Salafist preacher Ahmed al-Assir and the Lebanese Army in the city of Sidon in Southern Lebanon, killing 18 soldiers and scores of Assirs’ fighters. The battle, which started when fighters from Assir’s militia targeted a Lebanese Army checkpoint, ended on Monday, when government forces seized Assir’s security compound in Sidon’s suburb of Abra. Assir and dozens of fighters are now hiding after arrest warrants were issued in their names.

The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood republished on their official account on Twitter a YouTube video taken from footage by Hezbollah’s TV channel Al-Manar, which allegedly shows fighters shouting the name of Prophet Mohammad’s granddaughter Zainab, during the arrest of one Assir’s fighters. Sayyida Zainab is a central religious figure for Shiites. Hezbollah’s opponents have used this video to suggest that either the Shiite group’s fighters were involved in the battle alongside the Army, or that the Army has a leaning towards Hezbollah.

Other Syrian opposition supporters criticized Assir, accusing him of fuelling sectarian tension, even though Assir has opposed Hezbollah for the group’s support of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Activist Hadeel Meree wrote on her Facebook page:

"It's not necessary to drag Lebanon's Sunnis into an uneven war so that they can be slaughtered…That's not the way to act, Assir. If you want to support us in Syria, then keep the Lebanese front calm. Setting Lebanon on fire will serve the Syrian regime."
“It’s not necessary to drag Lebanon’s Sunnis into an uneven war so that they can be slaughtered…That’s not the way to act, Assir. If you want to support us in Syria, then keep the Lebanese front calm. Setting Lebanon on fire will serve the Syrian regime.”

The pro-opposition satirical Facebook page, “La Tishlishna Mashloushin” (Don’t Confuse Us, We’re Already Confused) slammed Assir for his acts, including his role in leading pop singer Fadel Shaker into quitting singing and becoming an Islamic militant.

 

"It’s great to grow your beard, act like a thug, then bring a bunch of brainless thugs [like] yourself, occupy a mosque, brainwash a crazy singer to have publicity, hold black banners and attack the Army; after that you'll be all over the news… This creature is demented; he could not represent himself, let alone a nation, a sect, a neighbourhood, or even a third-grade classroom. By the way: [We] salute the Lebanese Army, and may its martyrs rest in peace."
“It’s great to grow your beard, act like a thug, then bring a bunch of brainless thugs [like] yourself, occupy a mosque, brainwash a crazy singer to have publicity, hold black banners and attack the Army; after that you’ll be all over the news…
This creature is demented; he could not represent himself, let alone a nation, a sect, a neighbourhood, or even a third-grade classroom.
By the way: [We] salute the Lebanese Army, and may its martyrs rest in peace.”

Pro-opposition lawyer and activist Michel Shammas commented on the unrest in several parts of Lebanon on his Facebook page, where he worried that the uptick in security incidents might be a prelude to a new Lebanese civil war, like the one that took place between 1975 and 1990.

The Friends of Syria will arm the rebels

Representatives of the anti-Assad “Friends of Syria” diplomatic group of countries and bodies announced in their conference in Doha on Saturday, June 22, that they will arm the Syrian rebels.

In reaction to this declaration, Syria’s official news agency SANA, tweeted:

"Media Reports: Qatar has transferred chemical weapons to the terrorists through Turkey. The Syrian Army's victory on the ground pushed Obama to declare that he will arm the opposition."
“Media Reports: Qatar has transferred chemical weapons to the terrorists through Turkey. The Syrian Army’s victory on the ground pushed Obama to declare that he will arm the opposition.”

Political program presenter at the pro-opposition, Cairo-based TV channel “Suria Al-Ghad,” (The Syria of Tomorrow) Samir Mteini, commented on his Facebook page, saying:

"What is required is an immediate military settlement of this conflict. Arming both sides of the war in Syria aims to destroy Syria…the party that is foremost responsible for what is happening is Assad's regime, and then comes the Friends of Syria, because…they're prolonging the conflict."
“What is required is an immediate military settlement of this conflict. Arming both sides of the war in Syria aims to destroy Syria…the party that is foremost responsible for what is happening is Assad’s regime, and then comes the Friends of Syria, because…they’re prolonging the conflict.”

 

Damascus enters the conflict again

An explosion hit the Bab Touma quarter in the Old City of Damascus on Thursday, June 27, killing four people. On Sunday, June 23, attacks also targeted government security headquarters in the Rukneddine quarter and Abbasid Square. An explosion also struck the Mezze 86 district, which is mostly populated by Alawites. These and other recent attacks in Damascus and its suburbs come after a lull that lasted almost three weeks.

Activist Eiad Sharbaji criticized the media for underreporting the fighting in certain parts of Damascus, as well as the suffering it is causing. He wrote on his Facebook page, saying:

"There are several areas that are offering sacrifices yet were not given fair coverage in media…Qabun is an outrageous example of this; for days, it has been suffering from a concentrated campaign of shelling, destruction and siege, yet this was not reflected in the media."
“There are several areas that are offering sacrifices yet were not given fair coverage in media…Qabun is an outrageous example of this; for days, it has been suffering from a concentrated campaign of shelling, destruction and siege, yet this was not reflected in the media.”