General view of the Laylaki neighborhood, in Beirut southern suburbs. (Credit: João Sousa / L'Orient Today / Illustration photo)
BEIRUT — Armed clashes resumed Tuesday evening in the Palestinian refugee camp of Burj Brajneh, in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Many residents of the area evacuated their homes.
Earlier in the day, shortly before noon, bursts of automatic gunfire and rocket fire were heard. The army and a source within the Internal Security Forces confirmed to L'Orient-Le Jour that the shots came from clashes between several individuals.
According to the police, the clashes took place around the camp between Palestinians and suspected drug traffickers. A Palestinian source in the camp told L'Orient-Le Jour that a drug trafficker nicknamed Hassan Jaafar, of Syrian nationality, would circulate the camp protected by 15 armed individuals, and allegedly fired several shots in recent days.
Jaafar also allegedly caused several injuries. Young people in the camp then retaliated by firing in turn, which degenerated into episodic clashes.
Troops searched the home of Hassan Jaafar, which is located on the edge of the camp, but were unable to locate him. Palestinian organizations on the spot are in contact with the army and Hezbollah to obtain his arrest.
In the evening, the Lebanese Army announced the arrest of two people in Burj Brajneh accused of firing shots. Weapons and drugs were also seized from their possession. The army said an investigation has been opened.
Reporting contributed by Mountasser Abdallah.