Armed clashes erupt in Palestinian refugee camp in S. Lebanon

Armed clashes broke out Thursday evening in Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon between members of the Fatah Movement and Islamic militants, local news website Lebanon 24 reported, said Xinhua.

Islamic militants carried out a surprise attack on the Fatah Movement centers in the Al-Barakasat neighborhood, the report said, adding the shells hit the city of Sidon.

No casualties have been reported so far.

The Joint Palestinian Action Committee in Lebanon called for a cease-fire to allow security forces to reinstate security in the camp.

Clashes between rival groups often occur in the Ain Al-Helweh camp, the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. Between July 29 and Aug. 3, clashes between members of the Palestinian Fatah movement and Islamic activists in the camp killed at least 13 people and injured dozens of others.