Ain Ibl death, Kahaleh shootout 'under investigation': Mawlawi

Lebanon's caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi assured Monday that recent security incidents in the country are "under investigation," among them Wednesday's gunfight in the Aley village of Kahaleh and the suspicious death earlier this month of a former Lebanese Forces (LF) official in the south.  Mawlawi's remarks followed a Central Security Council meeting he chaired at the Interior Ministry in Beirut. The caretaker minister also stressed the "pivotal role" the security forces play in ensuring stability in the country.

Mawlawi particularly praised the role of the security forces in the aftermath of the Kahaleh incident, saying they "protected the people and civil peace in [the village of]  Kahaleh."  On Wednesday evening, two people were killed in a shootout in the village following the overturning of a Hezbollah-owned truck carrying ammunition.

Mawlawi went on to highlight the "pivotal role played by the security and judicial services in achieving civil peace and stability in the country." 

The caretaker minister also affirmed his full readiness to "keep up with developments and protect citizens," emphasizing that "the events that happened are under investigation."

Mawlawi also commented on a suspicious death in Ain Ibl, Bint Jbeil, which is believed to have occurred on Aug. 2. On Aug. 9, police opened an investigation into the death of Elias al-Hasrouni, a former Lebanese Forces (LF) coordinator in the area. Mawlawi said that "the investigations are ongoing," but added that some information gathered so far suggests that political parties were not involved. 

Finally, Mawlawi noted that the government will not tolerate that Palestinian refugee camps "disturb the security of any Lebanese region." At least 13 people were killed in the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near Saida during clashes between the Fatah movement and radical Islamist factions that began on July 29 and lasted several days.