Five Injured In Armed Clash in Qab Elias
An altercation in Qab Elias-Wadi al-Dalum developed into gunfire and the use of firearms around noon on Monday, near the town’s National School and municipality building, leaving six people injured.
According to information circulating, the incident began as a dispute between family members before escalating into gunfire. A man who was not involved in the dispute was also injured after being shot while at his workplace nearby.
The six injured were identified as:
Osama Ahmad al-Zoghbi, born in 1976, who sustained a lower abdominal injury.
Rameh Badi al-Zaoun, who suffered a serious injury to the back of the heel.
Samer Awwad al-Zaoun, born in 2006, who was injured in the foot.
Mohammad Qassem al-Zaoun, born in 2002, who was injured in the foot.
Hamad Khodr al-Aqleh, born in 2008, who was run over by a vehicle.
Saad Qassem Mohammad al-Zaoun, born in 2007, who was injured in the back of the heel.
The head of the Qab Elias-Wadi al-Dalum municipality and president of the Central Bekaa Municipalities Union condemned the incident, saying such incidents do not reflect the values of the town’s residents.
He stressed that the state, the law and official institutions are the authorities responsible for protecting people and safeguarding their rights, calling for tougher security measures to address what he described as the spread of weapons among some young people.
The mayor called on President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, the Army command and the Interior Ministry to strengthen patrols and checkpoints and step up raids and security support, noting that municipal police have limited powers and that the municipality needs greater assistance from the security forces.
He also said the municipality plans to strengthen the role of its police force and give it a greater role in addressing violations and assaults, stressing that the municipality would not tolerate anyone carrying weapons, violating others’ rights or threatening residents’ safety.
He warned that the uncontrolled spread of weapons poses a danger to everyone, noting that individual disputes, whatever their cause, can quickly turn into tragedies affecting people who have nothing to do with them, particularly in areas with schools, roads and public spaces.
He concluded by stressing that weapons should be exclusively in the hands of the state, the Lebanese Army and legitimate security forces, while wishing all the injured a speedy recovery and calling for stronger measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring in the town.
