Lebanese army controls Tripoli area after clashes

"The Lebanese army is now in full control of al-Minya after fierce clashes with militants," the source, who asked to remain anonymous, told Anadolu Agency.

Clashes, however, continue to rage in other parts of the city, he added.

Tripoli has been the center of clashes between the Lebanese army and unidentified militants for the past two days. An unspecified number of troops, militants and civilians were killed in the violence.

In recent months, the city has been shaken by sporadic sectarian violence between Sunni residents of the Bab al-Tabbaneh district and Alawite residents of the Jabal Mohsen neighborhood.

Since 2008, dozens have been killed and hundreds injured in recurrent violence between armed residents of the two districts.

The violence was initially prompted by the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri.

The ongoing conflict in next-door Syria, now in its fourth year, has served to aggravate simmering sectarian tensions in Lebanon.

Anadolu Agency