The Lebanese civilians of Jabal Mohsen have fallen victim to another callous terrorist attack committed by the Al-Qaeda linked militant group – “Al-Nusra Front” (Jabhat Al-Nusra) – in the northern part of the Tripoli Governorate earlier today; this was the first major act of terrorism in to befall Jabal Mohsen in over 1 year.
At least 9 civilians were reportedly killed and another 36 were wounded when twin suicide bombings rocked a popular café in the heart of Jabal Mohsen. The 2 suicide bombers were identified as Taha Sameer Kayaal from ‘Akkar and Bilaal Mohammad ‘Ibrahim from Bab al-Tabaneh – both of these suicide bombers are from the Tripoli Governorate and both of them were members of the Al-Nusra Front organization.
The motive behind the twin suicide bombings has not been revealed; however, Jabal Mohsen is a predominately Alawi Quarter in the provincial capital of Tripoli that has had a long standing feud with the predominately Sunni Quarter of Bab Al-Tabaneh. Both the Alawi and Sunni of these 2 areas have clashed on multiple occasions since the Lebanese Civil War.
An immediate curfew has been implemented by the Interior and Municipalities Minister, Nuhad al-Mashnouq, requiring all civilians in Jabal Mohsen to remain in their homes, while Lebanese Security Forces restore stability in the area. Wounded civilians have been granted free health care at the expense of the Interior and Municipalities Minister.