Lebanese army continues operation to close entrances to Beddawi Palestinian refugee camp

The Lebanese army launched the second phase of its operation to close several official and unofficial entrances to the Beddawi Palestinian refugee camp, near Tripoli, in North Lebanon, by blocking with concrete stones a secondary road linking the camp to the neighboring Mankoubine area.

The army is expected to complete its mission this Saturday by closing two other entrances, despite the dissatisfaction of Lebanese and Palestinian residents of the area, reported L'Orient Today's correspondent in the region.

This measure, decided over two years ago, was postponed due to the local and regional context since the beginning of the war in Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023. The decision was made in coordination with the Palestinian embassy in Beirut, which confirmed its support, while the Palestinian factions and popular committees in the north also endorsed this approach, described as "concerted and non-hostile."

The accelerated implementation of these closures is particularly in response to a series of confrontations between camp residents and the neighborhood.

Furthermore, the Lebanese army has been conducting intensive patrols since Saturday morning in the Mankoubine area, north of Tripoli, as part of a campaign to track down wanted individuals and to control the security situation.

For several days, the area has been the scene of a significant deployment of military personnel and the circulation of army vehicles in the inner neighborhoods.