Two injured as Beirut generator owners exchange gunfire

BEIRUT — Shots were heard Friday afternoon in the Beirut neighborhood of Aisha Bakkar, prompted by a dispute between private owners of electricity generators, the state-run National News Agency reported. Two injuries were reported, according to the NNA.

The shooting reportedly took place Friday "after a dispute that broke out two days ago between several generator owners in the area," NNA says. Other local media reported "violent clashes," and several videos have circulated on social media in which several bursts of gunfire can be heard.

إطلاق نار كثيف في عايشه بكار / تلة الخياط. pic.twitter.com/iAKUdPV6vN

— zahra chami (@ZahraChami) February 10, 2023

An Army's spokesperson told L'Orient Today that no further information is available on the incident.

The Internal Security Forces (ISF) did not respond to L'Orient Today's requests for further details.

NNA reported Friday evening that residents of Aisha Bakkar held a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Interior, in the neighboring district of Sanayeh.

"The road was blocked with burning tires to protest the repeated clashes in this neighborhood yesterday and today," the agency said, saying that "demonstrators have demanded the removal of a neighborhood mukhtar [lower level state functionary] following the clashes."

According to some local media, one of the generator owners involved in the shooting is a local mukhtar.

According to images circulating on social media, armored Lebanese army vehicles were sent to Aisha Bakkar after the clashes.

توتر يسود منطقة عائشة بكار في بيروت على اثر الاشكال الذي وقع منذ بعض الوقت. pic.twitter.com/mKOuvuxRh8

— Fouad Khreiss (@fouadkhreiss) February 10, 2023

As Lebanon spirals deeper into economic collapse, incidents involving fire arms have become more frequent. There is little gun control and security forces struggle to prevent such armed clashes.