Palestinian joint security forces members stand guard in Ain al-Hilweh, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. (The Daily Star/Mohammed Zaatari)
On August 17, a coalition of the Palestinian Fatah Movement and other Palestinian armed groups launched a security operation in Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in Sidon District in southern Lebanon.
The Fatah-led operation has an aim to drive the ISIS-linked Bilal al-Arqub terrorist group out from the area. Last April, the Bilal al-Arqub group attacked many Palestinian armed groups in an attempt to capture parts of the camp.
On Saturday, clashes intensified in the camp after Bilal al-Arqub had attacked the headquarters of the Palestinian Joint Security Forces. Bilal al-Arqub killed one fighter of the Palestinian Joint Security Forces. However, the attack was repelled.
Some reports of the Lebanese media claimed that the Hamas movement withdrew its fighters from the Fatah-led collation while other reported that Hamas only protested the way Fatah is leading the attack.
Palestinian sources predicted that the operation will end soon as many of Bilal al-Arqub fighters were killed or injured in the last three days. One of them is Bilal al-Arqub’s son Obidah al-Arqub who been killed in today clashes.
