Fatah Officer, Bodyguards Killed Amid Clashes in Lebanese Refugee Camp
A Palestinian military officer from the Fatah Movement and three of his bodyguards were killed in an ambush by Islamist forces in southern Lebanon on Sunday, the Elnashra news website reports. The officer, Abou Ashraf al-Armoushi, was killed amid armed confrontations that broke out early Sunday between Fatah members and Islamists in the Ain al-Hilweh camp, near the southern Lebanese port of Sidon.
These conflicts resulted in at least one additional fatality and six injuries. Stray bullets also struck homes and shops in the nearby al-Sabbagh and al-Barad neighborhoods. Local residents have been advised to stay clear of areas close to the camp due to the risk of stray gunfire.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency voiced its deep concern over the escalating tensions and violence in the camp, urging all parties involved to restore calm and stability.
Ain al-Hilweh, Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp, frequently experiences clashes between rival factions. The ongoing crisis in Syria has exacerbated the situation, leading to an influx of Syrian and displaced Palestinian refugees.
