Ahmad Al-Assir, Sheikh of Bilal Ben Rabah Mosque : a Salafist preacher in Lebanon

[Music] Even at the door of his mosque, Sheikh Ahmed Alas no longer moves without bodyguards. He wants to show us his car punctured by bullet holes. Last week, two of his supporters were killed fighting his B gunmen. Alas portrays himself as the prime target of the Shiite party. There's no longer a Sunni leader in Lebanon. To tell the truth, Saad Hariri is abroad. They killed Rafik Hariri. They killed Wiim Alhassan, a very important security official. There's no one left to lead the Sunni community. Words are all I possess, but weapons are never far away. This weekend, in front of the press and his supporters, Alas openly threatened to resort to them. It's now become necessary to create Sidon Resistance Brigade. For the moment, other leading Islamists oppose forming a unified Sunni militia, but the sheikh's men are armed, and his young supporters are preparing to go into battle. We're ready to bleed for air. We'll do anything he asks of us. Sheikh of a mosque in the suburbs of Sidon, virtually unheard of less than a year ago, Assir now preaches in front of thousands of faithful followers. His strategy capitalizes on Sunni feelings of humiliation. Ahmed Alas and his followers represent the little dignity this community has left in this country. This supporter shows us the other key to the sheikh's success. This half-built building in Sidon suburbs shelters more than 300 Syrian refugees, all Sunni. As he preaches solidarity, Ahmed Alas deepens Lebanese Sunnis' desire for revenge. Maybe one day, a day we're sure will come, after the fall of the criminal regime of Bashar Al Assad, we'll have to take refuge with our Syrian brothers. That's why there are bonds between us, so that we can also bring down this other regime that we call Hisbah, which has a grip on the Lebanese state. In the streets of Sidon's old souk, Ahmed Alas is far from universally popular. He is the Lebanese. Why is he telling Sunnis to attack Shiites? Certainly, Sunnis are afraid of Shiites. Shiites are afraid of Sunnis. It doesn't make sense. It's completely ridiculous. Even if his views are in the minority, the rise of this Salafist preacher indicates a larger trend. Sectarian tensions are growing in Lebanon once again. [Music]

the prime target of the Shiite party there's no longer a Sunni leader in Lebanon to tell the truth sad hereri is abroad they killed rafik hereri they killed wiim alhassan a very important security official there's no one left to

lead the Sunni Community words are all I possess but weapons are never far away this weekend in front of the press and his supporters alas openly threatened to resort to them it's now become necessary to create sidon resistance

Brigade for the moment other leading islamists oppose forming a unified Sunni militia but the shik's men are armed and his young supporters are preparing to go into battle we're ready to bleed for air we'll do anything he asks of us Shake of

a mosque in the suburbs of sidon virtually unheard of less than a year ago assir now preaches in front of thousands of faithful followers his strategy capitalizing on sun feelings of humiliation Ahmed alass and his followers represent the little dignity

this community has left in this country this supporter shows us the other key to the Sheikh's success this half built building inide on suburbs shelters more than 300 Syrian refugees all a Sunni as he preaches solidarity Ahmed alas deepens Lebanese sunn desire for

Revenge maybe one day a day we're sure will come after the fall of the criminal regime of Bashar Al Assad we'll have to take refuge with our Syrian brothers that's why there are bonds between us so that we can also bring down this other regime

that we call hisbah which has a grip on the Lebanese state in the streets of sidon's old Suk Ahmed alas is far from universally popular Hees the libanes why is he telling s to a Shiites certainly s are afraid of shiit

shites are afraid of s it doesn't make sense it's completely ridiculous even if his views are in the minority the rise of this salafist preacher indicates a larger Trend sectarian tensions are growing in Lebanon once again [Music]