SIDON, Lebanon: Clashes in the Palestinian refugee camp of Mieh Mieh in the coastal city of Sidon killed eight people, including the commander of an armed group, and wounded 10 others Monday, security sources said.
Fighting erupted around noon between supporters of former Fatah commander, Ahmad Rashid Adwan, and members of the armed group Ansar Allah, headed by Jamal Suleiman.
During the clashes, members of Ansar Allah stormed Adwan’s headquarters, killing him and his bodyguard, Ahmad Souri, the sources told The Daily Star.
Adwan’s two brothers, Rashid and Khaled, were also among the fatalities, the National News Agency reported.
Gunmen exchanged gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades for over two hours, the sources said, adding that the clashes subsided around 3 p.m.
The Lebanese Army deployed heavily around Mieh Mieh in a bid to contain the clashes as military units worked to seal off all entrances to the camp.
Palestinian Popular Committees delegation arrived to the camp and held several meetings with Ansar Allah to put an end to the violence and agree on a ceasefire.
Members of the Palestinian group, founded in the 1990s with Iran’s backing, evacuated Adwan’s headquarters as residents in the camp pulled several bodies out of the offices.
A Palestinian official said Monday’s fighting was the result of a personal dispute between members of the two groups.
“There was a personal dispute ten days ago and several factions tried to resolve it but they failed,” head of Aqssa Brigades Munir al-Maqdah told the state-run agency.
Source: The Daily Star