Mastermind behind Tripoli's unrest revealed

Six months ago, people started to hear the name of Khaled Hoblos, with the launch of the government's security plan in Tripoli. Since that time, this person used the government's plan to brainwash worshippers who attend Haroune mosque for prayers in Bhannine saying "this plan is established to detain the young Muslims who support Sunni revolution."

But, Hoblos did not use to attack Hizbullah Party for its involvement in Syria's war neither for being a partner in the cabinet which approved the security plan; however he frequently criticized the Lebanese army and its performance considering it as a tool for Hizbullah party.

Islamic sources from Minieh region told Annahar daily that Hoblos was raised a salafist and jihadist; even he is well-known in public for his intransigence which opened a way of discrepancies with Scholars Committee of Minieh who are known to be moderate.

Hoblos used to have strong ties with Salafist cleric Daii Islam al-Chahhal who abandoned him for adopting high-pitched rhetoric against Lebanese army, and for financial and non-financial reasons too.

Annahar has learned that Hoblos came to spotlight during the latest battles in Mount Lebanon and Bab al-Tebbaneh, when he was leading an armed group in Bhannine to fight against Alawites in Jabal Mohsen. Even he attempted to partake in Abra clashes led by fugitive cleric Ahmad al-Assir but Lebanese army prevented him and paralyzed his movements.

One month ago, he delivered a fiery sermon al-Taqwa mosque in Tripoli whereby he called on Sunni soldiers to defect from Lebanese army and join the ranks of jihadists because "the army has turned into an Iranian army which seeks to strike Sunnis in Lebanon".

When Lebanese army and gunmen clashed in Tripoli's souks on Friday, Hoblos issued a statement reiterating his call on soldiers to defect and join the Sunni revolution. He even set an ambush for the army during the raid in Tripoli. Since that time the army did not hesitate to use warplanes to increase human losses among the ranks of Hoblos' terrorists, who are reportedly linked to Miqati's cell detained in Assoun last week.

The same newspaper has also learned that Bhannine and neighboring towns' residents near Haroun mosque were surprised by Hoblos' readiness to fight Lebanese army and the quantity of arms he possesses.

Some say that the group use tunnels in Dhour Bhannine to fight the army, which renders the battle long and complicated, pushing the soldiers to be stronger.