BEIRUT: Extremists of various nationalities have managed to infiltrate Ain al-Hilweh camp, according to Western information, bolstering last week’s reports that wanted Islamist fugitive Shadi Mawlawi is hiding in the Palestinian settlement. Lebanese security bodies have recently received information from Western sources confirming that dangerous extremist groups and cells have entered Lebanon’s largest camp for Palestinian refugees.
Around 33 extremists from different nationalities who pledged allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi are currently residing in the camp’s Safsaf neighborhood, according to the information, and have entered Lebanon with the help of Jund al-Sham, a long-established terrorist group that is reported to be loyal to ISIS.
Among those listed are fugitive Salafist preacher Ahmad al-Assir, Sheikh Khaled Hablas and Mawlawi, all wanted by authorities. It is believed they have joined extremist groups that are preparing to destabilize the situation inside the camp.
Extremist groups have been working to gain military strength in Ain al-Hilweh in order to turn it into an safe haven for jihadis to pressure the state and Hezbollah at the same time.
The head of a Lebanese security body informed representatives of Palestinian factions in Ain al-Hilweh that Assir, Mawlawi and Hablas, along with Fadel Shaker – a singer-turned-Salafist militant who backs Assir – are being hidden by a Palestinian military faction, according to the Western sources.
They are believed to be in the Hettin neighborhood with a Palestinian called Naim A., who is considered to be one of the major accomplices of the Nusra Front-affiliated Naim Abbas. Abbas was arrested earlier this year and charged in connection to two bombings in the Beirut southern suburb of Haret Hreik.
The same sources revealed that military commanders in Jund al-Sham have been training tens of members aged between 19 and 23 in the camp’s Al-Joura al-Hamra area on how to use explosive belts.
Brig. Gen. Ali Shahrour, the chief of military intelligence in the south, has asked the Palestinian factions to take responsibility and maintain the volatile situation in Ain al-Hilweh.
At the same time, sources explained that Hezbollah has intensified its meetings with Ansar Allah, a Palestinian group established and funded by Iran. The sources revealed the party’s security official in Sidon has begun supporting the group logistically to confront any attempt by ISIS and Nusra to take over the camp.
Separately, Lebanese security bodies have received information that groups belonging to ISIS are preparing for a series of terrorist attacks on Rafik Hariri International Airport and the U.S. and French embassies.
According to the information, ISIS cells are also planning to assassinate a French diplomat and to attack the Russian Cultural Center in Verdun, the French Cultural Center in Tripoli, Army facilities such as hospitals as well as other targets in Beirut.
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