Lebanese Troops Begin Collecting Palestinian Weapons in Disarmament Initiative
The Lebanese government aims to limit possession of arms exclusively to the state, as part of broader disarmament efforts.
On Thursday, Lebanese troops entered the Burj Al-Barajneh refugee camp in Beirut's southern suburbs to collect weapons surrendered by Palestinian factions.
This move is part of a government initiative to disarm such groups following a decision on August 5 to limit arms possession solely to the state.
The operation also follows a meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on May 21.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam hailed the start of the process, emphasizing that the initial handover marked an important step towards disarming Palestinian groups.
Additional batches of weapons are expected to be transferred from Burj Al-Barajneh and other refugee camps in the coming weeks.
The disarmament effort is being conducted based on lists prepared by the Lebanese Army in collaboration with Palestinian forces.
These weapons have been present in the camp for some time, not newly introduced.
Hezbollah activists claimed that the surrendered arms belonged to a Fatah defector who had recently brought them into the camp.
However, the Lebanese Army's Engineering Regiment examined and verified the weapons before their removal.
To facilitate the process, journalists were asked to leave the area.
The collected weapons will be held by the military, with plans for similar operations in other camps.
Lebanon hosts 12 Palestinian refugee camps across various regions.
In the past, the Lebanese Army has primarily interacted with committees established by Palestinian leaders rather than entering the camps directly.
Differing views have emerged among Palestinian factions regarding weapon surrender, particularly concerning groups allied with Hezbollah.
Despite this, there is a commitment to achieving understanding and securing human rights.
The weapons handover was praised as a significant step towards unity and stability by Thomas Barrack, the US envoy to Lebanon and Syria.
This development follows the arrest of Shadi Mahmoud Mustafa Al-Far, a former Fatah official from Burj Al-Barajneh camp, who had been dismissed from the organization for violating its decisions.
The Lebanese security forces have also issued warrants for Al-Far.
This disarmament initiative aims to dismantle long-established networks involved in arms and drug trafficking as well as major corruption operations.
Talks with Lebanese political officials and military command have been held by a Palestinian delegation, including discussions with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri concerning the implementation of ceasefire agreements.
This move is part of a government initiative to disarm such groups following a decision on August 5 to limit arms possession solely to the state.
The operation also follows a meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on May 21.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam hailed the start of the process, emphasizing that the initial handover marked an important step towards disarming Palestinian groups.
Additional batches of weapons are expected to be transferred from Burj Al-Barajneh and other refugee camps in the coming weeks.
The disarmament effort is being conducted based on lists prepared by the Lebanese Army in collaboration with Palestinian forces.
These weapons have been present in the camp for some time, not newly introduced.
Hezbollah activists claimed that the surrendered arms belonged to a Fatah defector who had recently brought them into the camp.
However, the Lebanese Army's Engineering Regiment examined and verified the weapons before their removal.
To facilitate the process, journalists were asked to leave the area.
The collected weapons will be held by the military, with plans for similar operations in other camps.
Lebanon hosts 12 Palestinian refugee camps across various regions.
In the past, the Lebanese Army has primarily interacted with committees established by Palestinian leaders rather than entering the camps directly.
Differing views have emerged among Palestinian factions regarding weapon surrender, particularly concerning groups allied with Hezbollah.
Despite this, there is a commitment to achieving understanding and securing human rights.
The weapons handover was praised as a significant step towards unity and stability by Thomas Barrack, the US envoy to Lebanon and Syria.
This development follows the arrest of Shadi Mahmoud Mustafa Al-Far, a former Fatah official from Burj Al-Barajneh camp, who had been dismissed from the organization for violating its decisions.
The Lebanese security forces have also issued warrants for Al-Far.
This disarmament initiative aims to dismantle long-established networks involved in arms and drug trafficking as well as major corruption operations.
Talks with Lebanese political officials and military command have been held by a Palestinian delegation, including discussions with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri concerning the implementation of ceasefire agreements.
