Cautious calm in Sidon following gunfire exchange

Cautious calm prevails over Lebanon’s southern city of Sidon where security forces are heavily deployed following the clashes that erupted last night between members of the Popular Nasserite Organization and Saraya al-Muqawama.              

The gunfire exchange between the two groups occurred on the backdrop of a bout instigated on New Year’s Eve between Mahmoud Bazaza [Saraya al-Muqawama] and Abou Rabih Masri [PNO] subsequently escalating by Thursday night. The violence led to the death of Mohammad Dirar, a partisan of Saraya al-Muqawama and left two injured (Ahmad and Mohammad Masriya).              

In this context, the chief of the Popular Nasserite Organization Oussama Saad expressed regret through LBCI, stating that his group is “paying the price of sectarian strife”.
                
For its part, the Lebanese Army Command - Directorate of Orientation released a statement saying that weapons used in the clashes were medium to light military munitions, with skirmishes occurring in the locality of the Saidoun neighborhood, Sidon.

The Lebanese Armed Forces rushed to the scene following the eruption of violence where it found the body of a Palestinian national who died after sustaining several gunshots.  A car without a number plate was also located beside the body, containing military equipment.

In this context 5 people were arrested, the statement added.