At least two people were killed and 10 injured, including a photographer, when militant Islamists battled with Palestinian gunmen on Monday in Lebanon's largest Palestinian refugee camp. Analysts said the clash amounted to a battle for control of the southern Lebanon Ein el-Hilweh camp. Friction between Islamists and Palestinian factions in the camp has been mounting for weeks.
"Yar! We be Islamists!"
"Yar! We be Paleostinians!"
[In harmony:] "Yar! Feel that friction!" |
Witnesses said both sides fired automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades in fighting that erupted ahead of the funerals of two people killed in an ambush on Saturday.
| Two of 'em? We only heard about the one... |
The clashes pitted an obscure militant Islamist group against forces loyal to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, one of several armed Palestinian factions that control most of the camp.
Witnesses said they saw at least two people dead, one a woman, and that at least 10 people were injured. Agence France Presse in Beirut said a Lebanese photographer working for the news agency was shot in the leg and taken to hospital. Fatah sources said two of its members were also hurt. Lebanon's army and security services do not enter the camp, in which Islamist groups and fugitives from justice have taken up residence, often fighting Palestinians they accuse of collaborating with the Lebanese authorities against them. Tension mounted sharply in the camp after Islamist leader Abdullah Shreidi was ambushed on Saturday. Shreidi, who is wanted by Lebanon, was critically wounded in the attack.
| Didn't hear about Abdullah getting potted. I hope it's very painful. He's the resident homicidal maniac, the head of the Usbat... |
A bit more detail, from the Beirut Daily Star...
Life was slowly returning to normal Sunday at the Ein al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp following the attempted murder of Abdullah Shreidi, leader of Usbat al-Nur, by the Fatah organization. Shreidi and some of his aides had fallen into an ambush by the Fatah group Saturday, which led to the death of two people and the wounding of two of Shreidiâs followers. Shreidi, who was earlier reported as dead or dying, survived the incident.
He was initially taken to a makeshift hospital within the camp, but had to be transferred after he was surrounded again by armed men from Fatah. He was smuggled out of the hospital from a hole made in its outside wall.
"How do we get 'im out, Mahmoud? They got us surrounded!"
"Here's a grenade! Blow a hole in the wall!" |
The decision to kill Shreidi was made in occupied Palestine and the official order to liquidate Shreidi had come from there, security sources said.
| Directly from Yasser? He got tired of losing guys to Abdullah? |
Shreidi and his party had been ambushed by unknown armed men at 5.50pm Saturday while he and his followers were returning from a funeral in the neighboring locality of Darb al-Sim, south of the camp. The funeral was that of Palestinian Ibrahim Shreidi, who had also been slain by unknown gunmen.
| Presumably a distant kinsman, though Abdullah's never hesistated to bump off somebody just because they're related. That's probably what happened to his Mom... |
When the vehicle in which Shreidi was traveling reached a turning south of the camp, the gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons.
Shridi was hit and transported under dangerous conditions to the Human Call Foundation Medical Center, run by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). He was in bad condition when he reached the hospital. His right-hand man, Wissam Tohaibish, was also gravely wounded in the shooting. Shreidiâs uncle on his fatherâs side, Yehia Shreidi, was killed in the shooting, together with another of Abdullah Shridiâs aides, Fakhr Shreidi.
| Sounds kind of like Fearless Fosdick, only with turbans. Was anybody not shot? |
Immediately after the shooting, a state of high tension and uncertainty dominated the camp resulting from the pervasive presence of armed men.
"Yar! We be..."
"Oh, shuddup!" |
By nightfall, the situation had developed into an armed confrontation, however there were no reported casualties.
"Yar! I rattle my weapoon in your general direction!"
"Yar! I shake my bandolier at yer mother!" |
Later in the evening there were conflicting reports about Abdullah Shreidiâs fate, but it soon became apparent that reports of his death were false. Sources told The Daily Star he had been hit in the shoulder, the chest and a kidney, and that when he reached the hospital he was hemorrhaging, which eventually led to the removal of the damaged kidney. It was reported that Shreidi refused to leave the camp and said âgive me any treatment you are capable of inside the camp. I do not want to be taken out.â
"Mahmoud!"
"Yes, Effendi?"
"Promise me I'll die with my turban on?" |
By night-time, the Fatah movement was on full alert with armed men surrounding the hospital. They were about to storm the hospital to arrest Shreidi and his armed followers when a gun battle erupted. Tense negotiations with the PFLP and some Islamic groups prevented the Fatah men from storming the hospital.
"But we wanna jihad that sucker!"
"You can't storm a hospital! What'll the infidels say?"
"Who cares what they think?" |
Other interventions were also made by the imam of the Sidon-based Al-Quds mosque, Sheikh Maher Hammoud â moves that led to a cease-fire by midnight after providing for the withdrawal of the Fatah gunmen and the positioning of PFLP men around the hospital.
| Now it's the PFLP snuffies who're the "moderates". It's like a parallel universe... |
Abdullah Shreidi was relocated at dawn to an unknown location, which was presumed later to be in the Safsaf area, his former stronghold. Shreidiâs condition was described as unstable and in need of intensive care. It was believed that the next 48 hours would determine whether he lived or died.
Meanwhile, the armed Fatah men are still on high alert and in their trenches while Shreidiâs armed men are also taking up positions in the Safsaf area. But the Fatah movement has made up its mind to liquidate Shreidi come what may, as a written statement from Fatahâs leader in Lebanon, Sultan Abu Aynayn, said.
| "That sucker's toast. He can start decomposing any time..." |
Informed sources also said that the Fatah decision to liquidate Shreidi was a brave one and that Fatah had taken a long time in its issuance.
| Yasss... Assassinations are very brave... |
Abdullah Shreidiâs father, Hisham Shreidi, founded Usbat al-Ansar in the 1990s. Abdullah was around 10 years old when his father, Hisham, was killed by gunmen.
| And very bravely killed, we might add... |
The young man decided to avenge the killing of his father and was involved in several armed attacks.
| "Yar! I must have Dire Revengeâ¢!" |
He is also wanted on several counts by the Lebanese authorities. Only two months ago, Abdullah Shreidi killed his own cousin, Nazih Shreidi. Abdullah had by this time left the ranks of Usbat al-Ansar which, after the death of his father, was led by Abdel-Karim Saadi, better known as Abu Mohjen, also wanted by the Lebanese authorities. |