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NPOV, Salafist are always Sunni Muslims, so is redundant to add it, he is a Salafist per several sources, although he can define himself as he want. You Tube shouldnt be normally used as a source, review WP policy...
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'''Ahmed Al-Assir''' is a Sunni Muslim Lebanese [[Imam]] of a Mosque in Sidon, South Lebanon. He has become a notable personality in Lebanon's current political landscape. In an interview on the 24th of June 2012 in a morning interview on Al-Jadeed TV Assir describes himself as [[Sunni]] Muslim who has roots in the [[Tabligh]] movement and having no particular denominational affiliation.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrPc0OS56DQ</ref>. He is outspoken against Iran and the [[Shia|Shi'a]] [[Islamic militant]] group [[Hezbollah]]'s threat to the fragile sectarian balance and democracy of Lebanon. Hezbollah is a state independent sectarian based militia and political party in the state of Lebanon.<ref>http://www.start.umd.edu/start/data_collections/tops/terrorist_organization_profile.asp?id=3101</ref>
'''Ahmed Al-Assir'''<nowiki> is a Lebanese [[Salafist]]<ref name="AssirJamestown">{{cite news|title=Lebanese Salafist Cleric Organizes Militia Forays into Syria|url=http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews=8fd5893941d69d0be3f378576261ae3e&tx_ttnews=Zambelis&tx_ttnews=40891&tx_ttnews=7&cHash=65e3faaedab7e0ec78e7a0b9352abdc2#.Uc3CC21jFnA|publisher=[[Jamestown Foundation]] (Terrorism Monitor vol. 11, Issue 10)|date=17 May 2013|accessdate=28 June 2013}}</ref><ref name="AssirSun">{{cite news|title=If Britain had helped us two years ago, we would have avoided bloodshed|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4969927/Sheikh-Ahmad-al-Assir-on-how-britain-should-have-helped-syrian-conflict.html|publisher=[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]|date=2013-06-15|accessdate=28-06-2013}}</ref><ref name="AssirfatwaSyria"/> </nowiki>[[Imam]] of a Mosque in Sidon, South Lebanon. He has become a notable personality in Lebanon's current political landscape. In an interview on the 24th of June 2012 in a morning interview on Al-Jadeed TV Assir describes himself as [[Sunni]] Muslim who has roots in the [[Tabligh]] movement and having no particular denominational affiliation.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrPc0OS56DQ</ref>. He is outspoken against Iran and the [[Shia|Shi'a]] [[Islamic militant]] group [[Hezbollah]], wich whom he accusses of being a threat to the fragile sectarian balance and democracy of Lebanon.


==Background==
==Background==
Assir was born to a Sunni father and Shia mother. He came from a non-religious artistic home, but later convinced his father not to play music. He has two wives and three children. According to one of his sisters, once a supporter of Hezbollah<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/profiles/2013/06/25/Breaking-down-Ahmad-al-Assir-the-man-behind-the-beard.html |title=Breaking down Ahmad al-Assir: the man behind the beard |publisher=Alarabiya.net English |date=2013-06-25 |accessdate=2013-06-29}}</ref>, his support was withdrawn when Hezzbollah and the Lebanese Shiite withdrew there focus from Israel and begun to exert too much force on the delicate sectarian balance of Lebanon.<ref>www.psc.isr.umich.edu/pubs/pdf/rr12-757.pdf</ref>
Assir was born to a Sunni father and Shia mother. He came from a non-religious artistic home, but later convinced his father not to play music. He has two wives and three children. According to one of his sisters, once a supporter of Hezbollah<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/profiles/2013/06/25/Breaking-down-Ahmad-al-Assir-the-man-behind-the-beard.html |title=Breaking down Ahmad al-Assir: the man behind the beard |publisher=Alarabiya.net English |date=2013-06-25 |accessdate=2013-06-29}}</ref>, his support was withdrawn when Hezzbollah and the Lebanese Shiite withdrew there focus from Israel and begun to exert too much force on the delicate sectarian balance of Lebanon.<ref>www.psc.isr.umich.edu/pubs/pdf/rr12-757.pdf</ref>


Al-Assir's notoriety increased after a series of sermons and public exhibitions criticizing Hezbollah, a once untouchable symbol in the Lebanese political landscape. He has also caused controversy in openly criticizing figures within the militia such as [[secretary general]] and [[spokesperson]] [[Sayed]] [[Hassan Nasrallah]]. In many of his speeches <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrPc0OS56DQ</ref> <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Fa_gvc7rtE</ref> are criticisms of Hezbollah's, [[Iran]]'s and the Arab [[Baath Party]]'s support for [[Bashar Al-Asad]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neareastquarterly.com/index.php/2012/06/26/ahmed-al-assir-and-salafism-in-lebanon/ |title=Ahmed al-Assir and Salafism in Lebanon &#124; Near East Quarterly |publisher=Neareastquarterly.com |date= |accessdate=June 10, 2013}}</ref> Assir has stated that he is only against Shias that follow the teachings of Khomeini.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/4759 |title=Al-Assir: A New Guardian of “Sunni Interests” in Lebanon |publisher=Al Akhbar English |date=2012-03-02 |accessdate=2013-06-29}}</ref> Assir has attempted to become a leader of the Sunnis of Lebanon, without success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2013/03/lebanon-assir-dead-end.html |title=Has Lebanon’s Sheikh Assir Reached a Dead End? - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East |publisher=Al-Monitor |date= |accessdate=June 10, 2013}}</ref> Currently he is not considered a mainstream Sunni Scholar. On the other hand his aggressive and emotional rhetoric has not only gained him headlines and controversy but attracted many supporters and followers disillusioned with the traditionally Sunni [[Future Movement]] party and the leadership of [[Saad Hariri]].<ref>Gary C. Gambill, “Salafi-jihadism in Lebanon,” Mideast Monitor 3.1 (2008)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/15142 |title=Ahmad al-Assir and Lebanon’s Despondent Sunnis |publisher=Al Akhbar English |date=March 4, 2013 |accessdate=June 10, 2013}}</ref>
Al-Assir's notoriety increased after a series of sermons and public exhibitions criticizing Hezbollah, a once untouchable symbol in the Lebanese political landscape. He has also caused controversy in openly criticizing figures within the militia such as [[secretary general]] and [[spokesperson]] [[Sayed]] [[Hassan Nasrallah]]. Many of his speeches are criticisms of Hezbollah's, [[Iran]]'s and the Arab [[Baath Party]]<nowiki>'s support for [[Syrian President]] </nowiki>[[Bashar Al-Asad]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neareastquarterly.com/index.php/2012/06/26/ahmed-al-assir-and-salafism-in-lebanon/ |title=Ahmed al-Assir and Salafism in Lebanon &#124; Near East Quarterly |publisher=Neareastquarterly.com |date= |accessdate=June 10, 2013}}</ref> Assir has stated that he is only against Shias that follow the teachings of Khomeini.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/4759 |title=Al-Assir: A New Guardian of “Sunni Interests” in Lebanon |publisher=Al Akhbar English |date=2012-03-02 |accessdate=2013-06-29}}</ref> Assir has attempted to become a leader of the Sunnis of Lebanon, without success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2013/03/lebanon-assir-dead-end.html |title=Has Lebanon’s Sheikh Assir Reached a Dead End? - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East |publisher=Al-Monitor |date= |accessdate=June 10, 2013}}</ref><nowiki> Currently he is not considered a mainstream Sunni Scholar.{{by whom?|date=July 2013}} On the other hand his aggressive and emotional rhetoric has not only gained him headlines and controversy but attracted many supporters and followers disillusioned with the traditionally Sunni </nowiki>[[Future Movement]] party and the leadership of [[Saad Hariri]].<ref>Gary C. Gambill, “Salafi-jihadism in Lebanon,” Mideast Monitor 3.1 (2008)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/15142 |title=Ahmad al-Assir and Lebanon’s Despondent Sunnis |publisher=Al Akhbar English |date=March 4, 2013 |accessdate=June 10, 2013}}</ref>


== 2012 sit ins ==
== 2012 sit ins ==
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===Syrian civil war===
===Syrian civil war===
In April 2013, Al Assir urged his followers to join the Syrian rebels, by saying that "There is now no other choice but to defend our (Sunni) people in Syria", and assuring that "There is a religious duty on every Muslim who is able to do so... to enter into Syria in order to defend its people, its mosques and religious shrines, especially in [[Qusayr]] and [[Homs]]." adding that "This [[fatwa]] (religious decree) affects us all, especially those who have military experience.". Assir also announced the establishment of “Free resistance battalions” in Sidon.<ref name="AssirfatwaSyria">{{cite news|title=Lebanese Sunni cleric calls for jihad to aid Syrian rebels against Hezbollah|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/04/23/Lebanese-Sunni-cleric-calls-for-Jihad-to-aid-Syrian-rebels-against-Hezbollah.html|publisher=Al Arabiya|date=23 April 2013|accessdate=28 June 2013}}</ref>
In April 2013, Al Assir urged his followers to join the Syrian rebels, by saying that "There is now no other choice but to defend our (Sunni) people in Syria", and assuring that "There is a religious duty on every Muslim who is able to do so... to enter into Syria in order to defend its people, its mosques and religious shrines, especially in [[[[Qusayr]]<nowiki>, Syria|Qusayr]] and </nowiki>[[Homs]]." adding that "This [[fatwa]] (religious decree) affects us all, especially those who have military experience.". Assir also announced the establishment of “Free resistance battalions” in Sidon.<ref name="AssirfatwaSyria">{{cite news|title=Lebanese Sunni cleric calls for jihad to aid Syrian rebels against Hezbollah|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/04/23/Lebanese-Sunni-cleric-calls-for-Jihad-to-aid-Syrian-rebels-against-Hezbollah.html|publisher=Al Arabiya|date=23 April 2013|accessdate=28 June 2013}}</ref>


Al-Assir himself crossed illegally the Syrian border with some of his followers to combat against Syrian government troops and Hizbullah fighters near Qusayr. Footage emerged of Al-Assir patrolling in combat gear with a [[AK-47]], and of him firing a machine gun from a roof.<ref name="AssirSun">{{cite news|title=If Britain had helped us two years ago, we would have avoided bloodshed|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4969927/Sheikh-Ahmad-al-Assir-on-how-britain-should-have-helped-syrian-conflict.html|publisher=[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]|date=2013-06-15|accessdate=28-06-2013}}</ref>
Al-Assir himself crossed illegally the Syrian border with some of his followers to combat against Syrian government troops and Hizbullah fighters near Qusayr. Footage emerged of Al-Assir patrolling in combat gear with a [[AK-47]], and of him firing a machine gun from a roof.<ref name="AssirSun">{{cite news|title=If Britain had helped us two years ago, we would have avoided bloodshed|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4969927/Sheikh-Ahmad-al-Assir-on-how-britain-should-have-helped-syrian-conflict.html|publisher=[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]|date=2013-06-15|accessdate=28-06-2013}}</ref>

Revision as of 14:44, 2 July 2013

Ahmed Al-Assir
أحمد الاسير
Born (1968-05-05) May 5, 1968 (age 56)[1]
NationalityLebanese
OccupationCleric

Ahmed Al-Assir is a Lebanese [[Salafist]]<ref name="AssirJamestown">{{cite news|title=Lebanese Salafist Cleric Organizes Militia Forays into Syria|url=http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews=8fd5893941d69d0be3f378576261ae3e&tx_ttnews=Zambelis&tx_ttnews=40891&tx_ttnews=7&cHash=65e3faaedab7e0ec78e7a0b9352abdc2#.Uc3CC21jFnA|publisher=[[Jamestown Foundation]] (Terrorism Monitor vol. 11, Issue 10)|date=17 May 2013|accessdate=28 June 2013}}</ref><ref name="AssirSun">{{cite news|title=If Britain had helped us two years ago, we would have avoided bloodshed|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4969927/Sheikh-Ahmad-al-Assir-on-how-britain-should-have-helped-syrian-conflict.html|publisher=[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]|date=2013-06-15|accessdate=28-06-2013}}</ref><ref name="AssirfatwaSyria"/> Imam of a Mosque in Sidon, South Lebanon. He has become a notable personality in Lebanon's current political landscape. In an interview on the 24th of June 2012 in a morning interview on Al-Jadeed TV Assir describes himself as Sunni Muslim who has roots in the Tabligh movement and having no particular denominational affiliation.[2]. He is outspoken against Iran and the Shi'a Islamic militant group Hezbollah, wich whom he accusses of being a threat to the fragile sectarian balance and democracy of Lebanon.

Background

Assir was born to a Sunni father and Shia mother. He came from a non-religious artistic home, but later convinced his father not to play music. He has two wives and three children. According to one of his sisters, once a supporter of Hezbollah[3], his support was withdrawn when Hezzbollah and the Lebanese Shiite withdrew there focus from Israel and begun to exert too much force on the delicate sectarian balance of Lebanon.[4]

Al-Assir's notoriety increased after a series of sermons and public exhibitions criticizing Hezbollah, a once untouchable symbol in the Lebanese political landscape. He has also caused controversy in openly criticizing figures within the militia such as secretary general and spokesperson Sayed Hassan Nasrallah. Many of his speeches are criticisms of Hezbollah's, Iran's and the Arab Baath Party's support for [[Syrian President]] Bashar Al-Asad.[5] Assir has stated that he is only against Shias that follow the teachings of Khomeini.[6] Assir has attempted to become a leader of the Sunnis of Lebanon, without success.[7] Currently he is not considered a mainstream Sunni Scholar.{{by whom?|date=July 2013}} On the other hand his aggressive and emotional rhetoric has not only gained him headlines and controversy but attracted many supporters and followers disillusioned with the traditionally Sunni Future Movement party and the leadership of Saad Hariri.[8][9]

2012 sit ins

In August 2012 the Sunni Muslim cleric Sheikh Ahmed Al-Assir and his supporters staged a sit in in the southern city of Sidon to protest Hezbollah's weapons.[10] This led to tensions, and later clashes between Assir-supporters and members of the Popular Nasserist Organization.[11][12] An AFP photographer was beaten by security forces during the clashes.[13] The following day, counter-protests were held by members of the Popular Nasserite Movement .[11]

On 8 August, a gunfight between supporters and rivals of Assir wounded five, including two women.[14]

Military Clashes

2012 Sidon clash

On November 11, 2012 three people were killed and four others wounded after supporters of Salafi cleric Ahmed al-Assir clashed with supporters of Hezbollah in the southern city of Sidon.[15][16] Assir stated "We have a blood score to settle with Hizbullah that can only be settled with blood", and that he considered forming an "armed resistance group."[17]

Syrian civil war

In April 2013, Al Assir urged his followers to join the Syrian rebels, by saying that "There is now no other choice but to defend our (Sunni) people in Syria", and assuring that "There is a religious duty on every Muslim who is able to do so... to enter into Syria in order to defend its people, its mosques and religious shrines, especially in [[Qusayr, Syria|Qusayr]] and Homs." adding that "This fatwa (religious decree) affects us all, especially those who have military experience.". Assir also announced the establishment of “Free resistance battalions” in Sidon.[18]

Al-Assir himself crossed illegally the Syrian border with some of his followers to combat against Syrian government troops and Hizbullah fighters near Qusayr. Footage emerged of Al-Assir patrolling in combat gear with a AK-47, and of him firing a machine gun from a roof.[19]

2013 Sidon clashes

In June 2013, clashes broke out in an eastern suburb of Sidon after several people attacked, threw stones and shattered windows in 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 as clashes broke out with gunmen wielding automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. Officials stated that the gunmen fighting al-Assir's followers were believed to be Hezbollah sympathizers.[20]

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.

A group of Al-Assir followers were believed[by whom?] to stage armed attacks on several civil apartments in Saida. These were reportedly identified as Hezbollah offices.[by whom?] Many Lebanese see this attacks as the highlights of a series of provocations initiated by Saudi and Qatar backed Sunni fundamentalists with the aim of expanding the Syrian civil war into Lebanon. The ultimate target being to weaken Hezbollah through involving it in heavy fights within Lebanese territory.

On June 23, 2013, 10 Lebanese Army soldiers were killed and 35 wounded, in a clash with armed men loyal to al-Assir in Sidon at an Army post near the Abra complex that houses the Bilal bin Rabah Mosque.[21] Violence started when Lebanese soldiers detained an Assir supporter, prompting a deadly attack by Assir's militiamen on an army checkpoint as a response. Some witnesses claimed that the army beat the detained man.[22] Roads were later blocked in other parts of the country, and the army came under fire in the Ain el-Hilweh camp.[23]

During 23–24 June 2013 Heavy street fighting erupted between the Lebanese Army and gunmen loyal to Salafist cleric Ahmed Al-Assir in Sidon. Sixteen soldiers and three militants were killed.[24] A bodyguard of a cleric, who tried to reach the fighting to negotiate a ceasefire, also died.[25] More than 100 Lebanese soldiers were wounded,[26] as well as 13 pro-Assir militants.[27] The Lebanese army has asked the country's politicians to intervene.[28] On Monday June 24, 2013, Lebanese Army commandos seized a complex controlled by gunmen loyal to Sheikh Ahmad Assir in the southern city of Sidon, shortly after the firebrand preacher fled the premises to an unknown destination.

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. Sources said soldiers were still trading gunfire with snipers located on the rooftops of nearby buildings. Sixty-five 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 the radical sheikh.

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. There is no factual basis for the claim that Assir was captured and his followers crushed.[29] His fate remains unknown however the army is treating the matter as a capture or kill operation on the basis that Assir killed Lebanese soldiers "cold blood" according to a military statement.[30][31]

References

  1. ^ a b "Al-Assir: A New Guardian of "Sunni Interests" in Lebanon". Al Akhbar English. March 2, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  2. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrPc0OS56DQ
  3. ^ "Breaking down Ahmad al-Assir: the man behind the beard". Alarabiya.net English. June 25, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  4. ^ www.psc.isr.umich.edu/pubs/pdf/rr12-757.pdf
  5. ^ "Ahmed al-Assir and Salafism in Lebanon | Near East Quarterly". Neareastquarterly.com. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  6. ^ "Al-Assir: A New Guardian of "Sunni Interests" in Lebanon". Al Akhbar English. March 2, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  7. ^ "Has Lebanon's Sheikh Assir Reached a Dead End? - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East". Al-Monitor. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  8. ^ Gary C. Gambill, “Salafi-jihadism in Lebanon,” Mideast Monitor 3.1 (2008)
  9. ^ "Ahmad al-Assir and Lebanon's Despondent Sunnis". Al Akhbar English. March 4, 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  10. ^ "Assir sit-in raises tension in south as preacher awaits Dialogue". The Daily Star. July 17, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  11. ^ a b "Bahia Hariri Says Seeking Pacification in Sidon after Rival Demos, Unrest". Naharnet. July 27, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  12. ^ "Scuffle at south Lebanon sit-in, two men roughed up". The Daily Star. July 27, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  13. ^ "AFP Photographer Beaten in Clash between Asir Supporters, Passersby". Naharnet. July 26, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  14. ^ "Gunfight in Sidon between Assir and local rivals wounds five". The Daily Star. August 9, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  15. ^ "Asir's Bodyguard Killed, Hizbullah Official Wounded in Sidon Gunfight". Naharnet. November 11, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  16. ^ "Two killed, three wounded in Sidon clashes". The Daily Star. November 11, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  17. ^ "Asir: We Suspended Decision to Form Armed Brigade Pending Consultations". Naharnet. 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  18. ^ "Lebanese Sunni cleric calls for jihad to aid Syrian rebels against Hezbollah". Al Arabiya. April 23, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  19. ^ "If Britain had helped us two years ago, we would have avoided bloodshed". The Sun. 2013-06-15. Retrieved 28-06-2013. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  20. ^ BARBARA SURK. "Lebanon Clashes: Security Officials Clash With Gunmen Loyal To Hezbollah Critic In Port City Of Sidon". Huffington Post. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  21. ^ "10 Troops Martyred in Clashes with al-Asir's Gunmen in Abra — Naharnet". Naharnet.com. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  22. ^ Solomon, Erika. "Army win in Lebanon's Sidon has set sectarian 'trap': Sunnis say". Reuters. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  23. ^ "Sidon Clashes Spill Over as Roads Were Blocked in Tripoli, Army Positions Become Target to Fire — Naharnet". Naharnet.com. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  24. ^ "Lebanon Clashes Rage Near Mosque; 16 Soldiers Dead". Npr.org. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  25. ^ "12 troops killed in Lebanon clashes with Sunni radicals". English.ahram.org.eg. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  26. ^ "Lebanon clashes: At least 16 soldiers killed in Sidon". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  27. ^ "Army moves to crush Assir, secure Sidon". Dailystar.com.lb. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  28. ^ "Deadly fighting rages in Lebanon". Aljazeera.com. June 24, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  29. ^ Mohammed Zaatari. "Lebanese Army storms Assir complex, preacher flees". The Daily Star. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  30. ^ Reuters (June 24, 2013). "Lebanese army storms Islamist mosque as Syria crisis spreads - 16 soldiers killed 24 June 2013". Haaretz.com. Retrieved June 29, 2013. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  31. ^ "Bomb explodes in eastern Lebanon near Syria". English.alarabiya.net. June 25, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.


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