Naharnet

Sniper Fire Renews in Sidon, Night Clashes Kill 3 and Injure 20

Several neighborhoods in the southern city of Sidon, including al-Baassiri and al-Njasa neighborhoods, went under prolific sniper early on Sunday despite a cease-fire agreement overnight between the clashing parties.

The overnight clashes, which left 3 dead and 20 wounded, led to the outbreak of fires in homes and damage to properties and cars and had forced many Palestinians to flee to the city of Sidon.

Despite the agreement that was reached overnight in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh between the Islamist Jund al-Sham group and the secular Fatah Movement, intermitted gunfire continued until midnight and it included hand grenades and sniper fire that forced the closure of a number of roads leading to the camp.

The Lebanese army positions on the entrance of the camps were hit by the clashes and had therefore replied to the source of fire and fortified its presence and enhanced security measures.

Although contacts between the Lebanese and Palestinian factions led to a cease-fire agreement, but they failed to keep it going.

The camp had witnessed several similar incidents in recent months.

Ain el-Hilweh, the largest Palestinian camp in the country, is home to about 50,000 refugees who live in dire conditions and is known to harbor extremists and fugitives.

By long-standing convention, the Lebanese army does not enter the country's 12 refugee camps, leaving security inside to the Palestinians themselves.

Source: Naharnet


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