Conflict Incident Report

SIDON, Lebanon: Two people were wounded in armed clashes between two families in the southern city of Sidon, a security source told The Daily Star.

The source said that the clashes took place in Msalabieh Square in the Old City.

The Lebanese Army deployed in the area to restore calm and pursue suspects involved in the gunfight.

The reasons behind the gunfight remains unclear.

One of the wounded was identified as Lutfi al-Mustafa, the owner of a candy shop in the area.

Mustafa's condition is critical, the source said.

The other man, who was in the vicinity, was identified as Bilal al-Soda.

Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya denounced in a statement the recurrent security chaos in the area that "is terrorizing the residents of the city."

It demanded the Lebanese Army and security forces to end the security violations, adding that the "people and their motives were clear."

The group called on political groups in Sidon to lift the cover off all the suspects.

Sunni sheikh Hussam al-Ilani, who is close to Hezbollah, also condemned the incident, calling on authorities to control the situation.