Clashes renewed in Ain Al-Hilweh refugee camp in the Lebanese southern city of Sidon on Monday, as the death toll of the skirmishes which erupted last Thursday rose to seven.
After relative calm which prevailed overnight on Sunday, clashes renewed at dawn on Monday between factions affiliated with “Fatah” and Islamic groups, Al-Manar correspondent in Sidon reported.
Fierce clashes were reported during Monday’s round with shells reaching regions out of the refugee camp including Sidon and Ghazieh, Al-Manar’s Amin Shoumar reported.
Stray bullets killed a citizen and injured three others on Monday, raising the death toll to seven and the number of injuries to 86, our correspondent added.
He noted that the clashes forced public and private sector, along with universities and schools to close.
The city’s southern entrance has been closed with traffic being rerouted to the seaside freeway, National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Earlier on Sunday, five Lebanese Army soldiers were injured as a result of a bombshell falling on two of their outposts located in the vicinity of the refugee camp.
In a statement the Lebanese Army’s General Directorate said that the injured soldiers were transferred to a nearby hospital adding that the national army responded to the source of fire.
بتاريخ ١٠ / ٩ / ٢٠٢٣، وعلى أثر الاشتباكات المسلحة داخل مخيم عين الحلوة ــ صيدا، سقطت ٣ قذائف في مركزَيْن عائدَيْن لوحدات الجيش المنتشرة في محيط المخيم، ما أدى إلى إصابة ٥ عسكريين أحدهم بحالة حرجة، وقد نقلوا إلى المستشفيات المجاورة للمعالجة. ٢/١https://t.co/8nlz6VIApH
— الجيش اللبناني (@LebarmyOfficial) September 10, 2023
Hamas Denies Backing Gunmen
Meanwhile, Palestinian Hamas resistance movement in Lebanon denied as fake reports claiming that the movement, alongside Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, was intending to take over the Palestinian decision in the Palestinian camps in Lebanon by backing gunmen fighting in the refugee camp of Ain Al-Hilweh.
“Since day one of the events, we have worked with all the Palestinian and Lebanese factions and forces, in addition to the Lebanese security apparatuses and the Palestinian Ambassador to Lebanon, to cease fire and preserve the camp, its residents, and the Lebanese neighborhood. We will continue our efforts with all the loyal sides to ensure security and stability inside the camp,” Hamas said in a statement.
“Hamas and the Palestinian factions in Lebanon are working collectively within the framework of the Joint Palestinian Action Committee that is tasked with running all the affairs relevant to our Palestinian people in Lebanon; there is no battle over powers or the Palestinian decision,” Hamas went on saying.
“These claims are totally untrue, and they only serve the Israeli occupation and the enemies of the Resistance,” it concluded.
Source: Al-Manar English Website and Agencies
