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BEIRUT: Three fighters and a civilian were killed on Saturday in clashes at a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon, official media reported, as Prime Minister Najib Mikati called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the spiraling violence.
On the third day of clashes between members of Fatah and various extremist groups in the Ain Al-Hilweh camp, numerous homes, shops, and institutions in the camp and the city of Sidon were destroyed.
Seven civilians and one extremist fighter were also injured in the clashes, which extended to the Hattin neighborhood and Jabal Al-Halib axis west of the camp, the areas of Al-Tiri and Ras Al-Ahmar, and the traditional conflict zones in Al-Safsaf, Al-Barakasat, Al-Tawarek, and Al-Bustan Al-Yahoudi.
Machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and sniper weapons were used targeting locations far from the primary battlefronts.
A special Fatah unit launched an assault on a residence where leaders of extremist groups Al-Shabab Al-Muslim and Jund Al-Sham were holed-up in the camp.
Sidon Governmental Hospital, near the entrance of the camp, evacuated its patients and staff to ensure their safety as clashes intensified.
A senior Palestinian source involved in the ongoing cease-fire negotiations told Arab News: “Extremist group militants, including members of Jund Al-Sham and Al-Shabab Al-Muslim, launched a surprise attack on Saturday morning against Fatah movement and Palestinian security forces positions, specifically in the Hattin and Al-Taameer areas within the camp.”
He denied that Fatah had initiated the cease-fire violation that went into effect on Friday night.
“Fatah members have resorted to self defense. The reported advancement of approximately 20 meters by a (Fatah) team is of minimal significance as it does not constitute meaningful progress. The conflict zone comprises adjacent houses and narrow alleys. True progress would entail capturing a specific axis, which did not occur today.”
Mikati called Abbas and emphasized the importance of “prioritizing the cessation of military actions and cooperating with Lebanese security services to address the ongoing tensions.”
“The current situation does not serve the Palestinian cause and represents a grave insult to the Lebanese state and the city of Sidon, which welcomes the Palestinian brothers,” Mikati said. “In return, it is essential for them to interact with the Lebanese state in accordance with its laws and regulations while safeguarding the safety of its citizens.”
Lebanese Army Command stressed its commitment to “take appropriate measures and engage in necessary communication to halt the clashes, which endanger the lives of innocent citizens.”
In a statement it urged all involved parties within the camp to cease fire in order to protect the interests of their children and their cause, as well as the lives of residents in neighboring areas, and called upon citizens in those areas surrounding the camp to “exercise caution and refrain from approaching the conflict zones, while adhering to the safety measures implemented by military units deployed in the region.”
The senior Palestinian source revealed that the recent negotiations have led to “significant decisions taken jointly with the Palestinian Embassy and leader Azzam Al-Ahmad to reinforce the cease-fire by strengthening the joint security force, including representatives from all national and Islamist factions within the camp.”
He added: “Coordination with extremist groups is managed by Asbat Al-Ansar, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad.
“Hamas had previously withdrawn from the security force approximately a year ago due to a minor disagreement, but today, it has decided to rejoin the committee to participate in the cease-fire process.”
Clashes have intensified amid reports of the necessity for the joint security force to enter Ain Al-Hilweh to implement the cease-fire. The Palestinian source emphasized that “if the agreed upon terms are not implemented, the situation will persist, and clashes will continue.”
Julien Raickman, head of Medecins Sans Frontieres in Lebanon, called on “all humanitarian agencies and organizations in Lebanon to urgently step up their efforts to provide secure shelters for those in need and to expand their response to address the escalating humanitarian and medical requirements,” saying that a significant number of camp inhabitants had been displaced “with many still residing in unsafe areas close to the ongoing clashes.”
Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora described the clashes as “senseless and self-destructive,” adding: “They are causing destruction to the homes of both Palestinians and Lebanese. Sidon, which has warmly welcomed Palestinian brothers, is paying the price with its security and stability, and this cannot be tolerated.”