Lebanon begins disarming Palestinian factions after refugee camp hands over weapons
Lebanese and Palestinian officials confirmed that the first phase of the disarmament process of Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon has begun.
BEIRUT — Lebanon’s army deployed in one of the country’s Palestinian refugee camps on Thursday as authorities announced the start of the disarmament process of Palestinian militants in a move hailed by US envoy Tom Barrack as “historic.”
The handover process began in Burj al-Barajneh camp in the southern suburbs of Beirut (Dahiyeh), where a first batch of weapons was handed over to the army, officials from both sides confirmed on Thursday.
What happened: Lebanon’s prime minister, Nawaf Salam, welcomed the process, saying in a post on X that the first weapons cache was placed in the custody of the Lebanese army, with further handovers from Burj al-Barajneh and other camps expected in the coming weeks.
Palestinian presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh also confirmed that the Lebanese army received weapons from Palestinian factions inside Burj al-Barajneh and el-Buss camp in the southern city of Tyre. In a statement carried by the official WAFA news agency, he said the process will extend to other camps “soon.”
