Recent armed clashes in Ain al-Hilweh could signal that tensions are reaching a boiling point that the Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon is ill-equipped to handle. Two people were killed and 15 wounded Aug. 22-29 in fighting between Islamist militants and members of Fatah. Ain al-Hilweh's two square kilometers (0.77 square miles) is home to some 100,000 people. Weapons are widespread, and some of the country's most-wanted people, Palestinian and Lebanese alike, reside there, enjoying the protection of certain armed groups. Over the past few years, matters have been additionally complicated by the Syrian refugees flowing into the camp. 

The recent fighting was not triggered on the spur of the moment. On July 25, gunmen assassinated Fatah Brig. Gen. Talal Balawna in the southern part of the camp. No one claimed responsibility, prompting a state of alert among the Palestinian groups in the camp. The situation has been unstable ever since.

A Palestinian security official in Lebanon who requested anonymity told Al-Monitor, “The clashes in Ain al-Hilweh erupted between two parties: Fatah, which wants to get rid of the Islamist groups inside the camp because they are affiliated with foreign parties and assassinated Fatah leaders, and [Islamist] groups that believe Fatah is targeting them with prosecution and assassination in an attempt to eradicate them.”

Ali Barakeh, a Hamas representative in Lebanon, told Al-Monitor that he had tried unsuccessfully to calm the violent outbreaks and ensure some semblance of security. “Between Aug. 22 and 25, I continually communicated with Lebanese and Palestinian parties to put an end to the security deterioration in Ain al-Hilweh. I contacted Col. Khoder Hammoud, Lebanese army intelligence director, and spoke to the Palestinian ambassador in Beirut, Ashraf Dabbour, and leaders from the [Palestine Liberation Organization] factions, the Alliance of Palestinian Forces, Islamic forces and popular figures in the camp,” Barakeh said.