Exclusive footage: Lebanese cleric turned mosque into military base.

Exclusive footage: Lebanese cleric turned mosque into military base.

Weapons were found inside Bilal bin Rabah mosque in Sidon
 city where firebrand Lebanese Sunni cleric Ahmed
 al-Assir leads Friday prayers. (Al Arabiya)

Firebrand Lebanese Sunni cleric Ahmed al-Assir has turned his mosque into a military base, exclusive Al Arabiya footage shows.

The Lebanese army took control of Abra, an area which is home to the Bilal bin Rabah mosque where Assir leads Friday prayers, after fighting on Monday that killed 17 soldiers and 50 Assir loyalists in the southern city of Sidon, a Lebanese military source said.

The footage shows the mosque was used to store weapons and ammunition, including hidden stashes discovered by the army.

Barrels filled with sand placed at the entrance of the mosque and around its circumference made it look like a military barricade.

The whereabouts of the cleric are unknown.

“The battle has ended after the army took full control over the area and after the escape of” Assir, a military source told Al Arabiya.

Meanwhile, military sources told Al Arabiya on Tuesday that about 110 Assir loyalists were arrested. The military is also combing areas that his followers are known to frequent.Read More>>>