Army Deploys after Man Critically Injured in Dahieh Armed Ambush

Lebanese citizen Hasan Hjoula was critically wounded Sunday in an armed ambush in the Beirut southern suburb of al-Kafaat, state-run National News Agency reported.

“As news broke that Hjoula was shot dead by armed men, tension surged in the al-Laylaki area (in Dahieh), where gunmen deployed heavily on the streets and intense gunfire was heard,” NNA said.

The agency noted that army troops have deployed in the area in a bid to contain the situation.

Later on Sunday, the Army Command issued a statement clarifying that Hjoula was "critically wounded" and not killed as initially reported.

“Today at 6:20 p.m. and against the backdrop of old family disputes, gunmen in an SUV opened fire from light assault weapons on a citizen in the al-Kafaat area, wounding him critically,” the statement said.

“An army force deployed in the aforementioned area to preserve security and stability and it is pursuing the shooters in order to arrest them and refer them to the relevant judicial authorities,” it added.

In August, two men were wounded in renewed clashes between the Hjoula and Zoaiter families in al-Laylaki, a southern suburb of Beirut.

During a previous round of clashes in June, the army explained that the unrest erupted over non-political reasons.