Lebanon: Grenade explosion, gunfire at refugee camp August 21

Event

On Monday, August 21, a grenade exploded and gunfire was heard at the Ain Al-Hilweh refugee camp, located near Sidon. It is unclear whether the explosion or gunshots resulted in any casualties or material damage. This incident comes five days after an outbreak of clashes in the camp between Palestinian security forces and an Islamist group led by Bilal Badr, which resulted in two deaths and left seven people injured.

Context

Ain Al-Hilweh is home to over 61,000 Palestinians, and is regularly the scene of clashes due to extremist groups that have settled there over the years. Under an agreement dating back to 1969, the Lebanese army is not permitted not enter the 12 Palestinian refugee camps in the country, where security is provided by Palestinian factions including Fatah and Hamas. The joint security force has been trying for months to limit the influence of the Badr group.

In addition to clashes in the past week, seven people were killed in clashes at Ain Al-Hilweh in April.

Advice

Individuals in Lebanon are advised to avoid all refugee camps and their surrounding areas due to the threat of violence and unrest.

On a more general note, due to the threat of terrorism, some Western governments advise their nationals against travel to the city of Tripoli, as well as Beirut's southern districts, southern Lebanon, and the country's eastern regions (including Baalbek, Hermel, Majdel, and Rachaiya). If a security operation is in progress, individuals are advised to leave the area immediately and follow instructions from authorities.