Life returns to normal in Lebanon's Palestinian refugee camp

Life began to return to normal Thursday into the Al-Tiri neighborhood in the southern Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp after six days of clashes and Palestinian refugees began moving out the debris of their damaged houses and shops.

Large groups of displaced Palestinians returned to their homes in the Al-Tiri neighborhood, which is now under the control of the camp's joint factional security forces, the LBCI TV reported.

The Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Osbat al-Ansar factions with forces from Fatah protecting the main road leading into the neighborhood began deploying in the neighborhood, the TV station added.

At least 15 stores and homes were burned to the ground due to the clashes.

Earlier Thursday, Lebanese Army commander Gen. Joseph Aoun inspected the military units deployed in the southern city of Sidon and the surrounding areas of Ain al-Hilweh.

"The security in the camp [Ain al-Hilweh], and in any other Lebanese areas is part of Lebanon's security as a whole," the Army Commander said.

Ain al-Hilweh witnessed intense clashes for nearly a week, after Fatah Movement fighters and members of the joint Palestinian security force faced off against an extremist group led by Al-Qaeda-linked fundamentalist Bilal Badr in the camp's Al-Tiri neighborhood.

The fighting broke out after Badr objected to the deployment of the new joint Palestinian security force and instructed his supporters to open fire on the unit.

The clashes left at least 10 dead and some 50 wounded over six days, including numerous civilians.

Badr is wanted by the Lebanese authorities who by a long standing agreement do not impose the security inside the camp. Endit