Summary
Despite the calm that has prevailed over Tripoli lately and the end of the latest round of violence, residents firmly believe another clash is around the corner as the emergence of new fighting groups takes center stage, raising fears of an Army reprisal.
At the forefront of new developments are accusations made by several fighter groups in Bab al-Tabbaneh that Army soldiers are atheists.
The commander's fears were echoed by most local fighting groups in Bab al-Tabbaneh.
The latest round was also marked by the appearance of new fighting groups, such as the Bilal Ben Rabah Brigades, the Oussoud al-Shaarani Brigades and Jalal Dandashi Brigades, a development that evokes the myriad of decentralized rebel groups in Syria.
The introduction of unknown fighting groups, and the response of the security forces to an attack against their presence in Bab al-Tabbaneh, signals the possibility for many local fighters that a crackdown on Islamist groups would soon be underway.
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