Conflict Incident Report

The Lebanese Army has arrested several people in Akkar over incidence of celebratory gunfire following the announcement of the annual Brevet exam results, the state-run National News Agency reported Sunday.
The NNA said that the Army conducted a series of raids in Bibnine, Birqayel, Bzal, Qleiaat and Mhamara and arrested six suspects, identified as Alaa H., Bassam Kh., Abdul-Karim Aa., Mohammad M., Khaled Aa. and Mohammad Aa.
They were accused of shooting into the air to celebrate the results of the Brevet, in which ninth graders are assessed on nine subjects over four days in a nationwide exam.
The results were announced Friday, with successful students now able to move on to high school.
Prior to the announcement of the results, the Internal Security Forces had sent out text messages warning against celebratory gunfire. “It’s not necessary that your diploma causes another’s martyrdom and death,” one of the texts sent to Lebanese residents said. “Let us all be happy ... but don’t shoot guns in the air,” another read.
However, the warnings fell on deaf ears. Heavy gunfire rang out, for instance, in Sidon’s Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp as the results rolled in. The bullets damaged multiple cars but no injuries were reported.