Ain al-Hilweh clashes leave 6 dead: Red Crescent

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 Sep 2023 14:56

Deadly clashes persist in Ain al-Hilweh camp with eyewitnesses reporting confrontations marked by automatic gunfire and shelling.

A fighter of the Palestinian Fatah group crosses a street during clashes with Islamist militants in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh, Saida, Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 (AP)

As clashes rage on for the fifth day in a row in the Ain al-Hilweh camp in Saida Lebanon, at least six individuals have tragically lost their lives, and numerous others have been injured, according to the Red Crescent.

This recent bout of violence erupted late Thursday, within the confines of the Ain al-Hilweh camp, situated on the outskirts of Saida, a coastal city in Lebanon. It comes hot on the heels of similar clashes that had recently pitted members of the Fatah movement against Islamist militants.

Providing updates on the evolving crisis, Imad Hallak, a spokesperson representing the Palestinian Red Crescent's Lebanon branch, reported that the toll has now risen to "at least six fatalities, one of which occurred on Monday, with more than 60 individuals wounded", noting that the casualties encompass both combatants and innocent civilians.

Eyewitnesses on the ground in Saida have continued to report ongoing confrontations marked by automatic gunfire and shelling, even though the intensity of the fighting had slightly waned overnight.

Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported that due to the ongoing unrest, the southern entrance of the city has been temporarily closed to traffic.

Ain al-Hilweh currently shelters over 54,000 registered refugees, with thousands of Palestinians having sought refuge there in recent years as they fled the war in neighboring Syria.

The Lebanese army reported on Sunday that projectiles had struck two military sites in close proximity to the camp, resulting in "five soldiers wounded, one of being in critical condition." Notably, the Lebanese military typically refrains from direct involvement in Palestinian camps, leaving the responsibility for security management to local factions.

In a statement issued via X, the Lebanese army issued a stern warning to "the relevant parties within the camp" against endangering military installations, while also affirming its intention to "take appropriate measures."