Lebanese army operation to pursue wanted men left one soldier dead in Tripoli: Defense Ministry

Clashes Tuesday in the northern city of Tripoli left at a Lebanese Army soldier dead and a number of others injured, after wanted men opened fire on soldiers that were pursuing them. "When Army forces were pursuing wanted men to arrest them, they came under fire and were targeted by hand grenades, which injured a number of military personnel. One was critically injured," a statement from the Army reported. "Army forces are continuing their raids to arrest them." The Defense Ministry later reported in a statement that Army soldier Ali Moustafa succumbed to his wounds.

According to the state-run National News Agency, suspect Jihad Baltaji and the other armed fugitives hid near Labor Minister Mohammad Kabbara’s office, which, according to Al-Jadeed, prompted the Army to surrounded the area and give the suspects a deadline to surrender. Kabbara also confirmed reports that his son Karim was involved in negotiating the handover of one of the fugitives, but made no mention of other reports that said he had been called on by a “high-ranking” Army officer to personally negotiate the release of the remaining wanted men.