BEIRUT // Mohammed Fawaz, the military commander for Hizbollah's forces in Beirut, was among three people killed in sectarian fighting in the city last night. His death was confirmed by a Hizbollah security official, who said the group is mobilising its special forces. Also killed were Mohammed Mahdi, another Hizbollah member, and Fawaz Omeirat, the son of a community leader and a member of Al Ahbash, a Sunni Islamic movement. Four people were reported wounded.
The fighting began after sunset in Bourj Abi Haider, a mainly Sunni area of central Beirut. It was unclear what started it. The fighting was intense, with the sound of machine gun fire heard throughout the city. About 100 Hizbollah fighters with shoulder-held rocket-propelled grenades and other weaponry tried to contain the fighting. Although the Lebanese Army finally took control of the area at about 10pm, sustained gunfire could be heard in surrounding areas as security officials rushed to assess and contain Beirut's worst sectarian clashes since May 2008.
mprothero@thenational.ae
