![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F5WF4MY5VZFVT4KZHJX7Q4WWMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa0cc4d88c555a630d2a8f9d895d8c5832701ef18e67c14d355ca0b830687d31&width=400&height=225)
Abbas Assadallah Chamas, 94, sips a coffee after a clan meeting to discuss the family's response to the killing of a member.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G7SZVOTNOEFYKKZWFGL2YT6MFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6e453461d1542a2bd04b5768db95d32e4a47f920d1dc6e7711220c626762d585&width=400&height=225)
Members of the Chamas clan investigate sounds of machinegun fire, thought to originate from the Noon family, following a clan meeting in Bouday, Lebanon, to discuss a response to the killing of family member Mohammad Chamas by a member of the Jaafar family in October 2020. All photos by Elizabeth Fitt for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LR4QSVRHPCRKPK6VCAFL7O7RAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=5459051908b7e7d8ded98b4cb3448d567cc9290a9eae8633d21e9515879ed44f&width=400&height=225)
Abbas Chamas talks with a relative on his terrace following a family meeting to discuss the regional response to a recent clash with the Jaafar family.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EOYLCAQKY35IPMEYT3B7BO74GQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=88787aab8f7aa8bd53d8b047100ebba2a10a0c7b5507449b839532fffcbadc09&width=400&height=225)
Hassan Chamas takes a break after responding to a suspected shooting from the Noon family following a Chamas clan meeting in Bouday, Lebanon.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZXMG2RJJHBZ4MT4H7N43HRZNHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=915efcf5333ee382cd555ad995a10243bb339969488befd7267e1fac230de53b&width=400&height=225)
Members of the Chamas clan leaving a family meeting called to discuss their response to the killing of family member, Mohammad Chamas by a member of the Jaafar family.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DWTRQCUZN3AKWSEAG7OJIMXXXY.jpg?smart=true&auth=0e40cf57df33410a3fe6835481d4f206aa20e010e268b8afc0a3bc753133e9c8&width=400&height=225)
Members of the Chamas clan linger in the meeting room of Sheikh Abbas Chamas following a clan gathering.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BHUBH33NG26CLGVSUEFDIFKQKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=105e2b16dc18b403cda94c287adb87e5d49a2fe6a51f041e11fb59d385b38bbb&width=400&height=225)
Members of the Jaafar family smoke shisha at the home of a relative in Baalbek, Lebanon.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OO5KT2PKE2U2722HV3NUNZE4WQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d0bf94631442c5ec0314bba96ece8ae3bd4346fa715d5a73b07d46c16a001886&width=400&height=225)
Abu Hassan Jaafar, head of one of a branch of the Jaafar family chats at his home in front of a screen filled with CCTV footage of the perimeter.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YFKLXVRR7CM5RWTEJJA2UZZW4A.jpg?smart=true&auth=1bf348ea5517f08f0013f2fba6febbea7442d2162159082c0f6e8a6810f7acdd&width=400&height=225)
Abu Hassan Jaafar smokes a cigarette at one of his homes in Baalbek.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RO6DU5S5FWWCUN3IEZNDTLRKCI.jpg?smart=true&auth=de8d7e1b4e91f3ca1188cdaef3e2806346dc15dd07ac35ad3f764ab38cd51a08&width=400&height=225)
Mohammad Chamas was killed here, at his shop, Home of Movies, by a member of the Jaafar family.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YCKAB7QJVUPI66GQSRJVFPOW3Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=74fa67ce03a0391beb4cba737724d70ed8e5fcf6fd8824267c53bc43122855d4&width=400&height=225)
Members of the Chamas clan investigating sounds of machinegun fire during a family meeting.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ULPH4KP37OKBAA3VSA4N2TIYAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=00fed0605162a56f96be50e6621dc26d89a77f45e5fd7d48e58cb2d92d9333be&width=400&height=225)
Wajih Jaafar, 81, whose grandson sits with family members at their home in Baalbek.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O55JZHFYE2BXKX53YMLKQ2QFS4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ba05146d6ddb2f93cf29de75afe697a1a8f31cb7942189cffa056fd61436e41a&width=400&height=225)
Muhammah Abbas Chamas, 65, son of Abbas Assadallah Chamas, 94, after a Chamas clan meeting.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KCPV4G6YFRM726EQDLZVBJGJ5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=2e1cea27cd4841a2cd25d4ca71020122834814858a0e53b3f266f262751f5d9d&width=400&height=225)
Abu Hassan Jaafar, smoking a cigarette at one of his homes in Baalbek.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TVZU3IFE32TQKFXGGB3ZIQRKJM.jpg?smart=true&auth=0a9e91996e2d684a7580fd60971e72ee94001f41dbf2b8fa4bc2a3e9659e7489&width=400&height=225)
A member of the Chamas clan responds to sounds of machinegun fire at a clan meeting.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F5WF4MY5VZFVT4KZHJX7Q4WWMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa0cc4d88c555a630d2a8f9d895d8c5832701ef18e67c14d355ca0b830687d31&width=400&height=225)
Abbas Assadallah Chamas, 94, sips a coffee after a clan meeting to discuss the family's response to the killing of a member.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G7SZVOTNOEFYKKZWFGL2YT6MFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6e453461d1542a2bd04b5768db95d32e4a47f920d1dc6e7711220c626762d585&width=400&height=225)
Members of the Chamas clan investigate sounds of machinegun fire, thought to originate from the Noon family, following a clan meeting in Bouday, Lebanon, to discuss a response to the killing of family member Mohammad Chamas by a member of the Jaafar family in October 2020. All photos by Elizabeth Fitt for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LR4QSVRHPCRKPK6VCAFL7O7RAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=5459051908b7e7d8ded98b4cb3448d567cc9290a9eae8633d21e9515879ed44f&width=400&height=225)
Abbas Chamas talks with a relative on his terrace following a family meeting to discuss the regional response to a recent clash with the Jaafar family.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EOYLCAQKY35IPMEYT3B7BO74GQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=88787aab8f7aa8bd53d8b047100ebba2a10a0c7b5507449b839532fffcbadc09&width=400&height=225)
Hassan Chamas takes a break after responding to a suspected shooting from the Noon family following a Chamas clan meeting in Bouday, Lebanon.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZXMG2RJJHBZ4MT4H7N43HRZNHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=915efcf5333ee382cd555ad995a10243bb339969488befd7267e1fac230de53b&width=400&height=225)
Members of the Chamas clan leaving a family meeting called to discuss their response to the killing of family member, Mohammad Chamas by a member of the Jaafar family.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DWTRQCUZN3AKWSEAG7OJIMXXXY.jpg?smart=true&auth=0e40cf57df33410a3fe6835481d4f206aa20e010e268b8afc0a3bc753133e9c8&width=400&height=225)
Members of the Chamas clan linger in the meeting room of Sheikh Abbas Chamas following a clan gathering.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BHUBH33NG26CLGVSUEFDIFKQKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=105e2b16dc18b403cda94c287adb87e5d49a2fe6a51f041e11fb59d385b38bbb&width=400&height=225)
Members of the Jaafar family smoke shisha at the home of a relative in Baalbek, Lebanon.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OO5KT2PKE2U2722HV3NUNZE4WQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d0bf94631442c5ec0314bba96ece8ae3bd4346fa715d5a73b07d46c16a001886&width=400&height=225)
Abu Hassan Jaafar, head of one of a branch of the Jaafar family chats at his home in front of a screen filled with CCTV footage of the perimeter.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YFKLXVRR7CM5RWTEJJA2UZZW4A.jpg?smart=true&auth=1bf348ea5517f08f0013f2fba6febbea7442d2162159082c0f6e8a6810f7acdd&width=400&height=225)
Abu Hassan Jaafar smokes a cigarette at one of his homes in Baalbek.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RO6DU5S5FWWCUN3IEZNDTLRKCI.jpg?smart=true&auth=de8d7e1b4e91f3ca1188cdaef3e2806346dc15dd07ac35ad3f764ab38cd51a08&width=400&height=225)
Mohammad Chamas was killed here, at his shop, Home of Movies, by a member of the Jaafar family.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YCKAB7QJVUPI66GQSRJVFPOW3Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=74fa67ce03a0391beb4cba737724d70ed8e5fcf6fd8824267c53bc43122855d4&width=400&height=225)
Members of the Chamas clan investigating sounds of machinegun fire during a family meeting.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ULPH4KP37OKBAA3VSA4N2TIYAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=00fed0605162a56f96be50e6621dc26d89a77f45e5fd7d48e58cb2d92d9333be&width=400&height=225)
Wajih Jaafar, 81, whose grandson sits with family members at their home in Baalbek.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O55JZHFYE2BXKX53YMLKQ2QFS4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ba05146d6ddb2f93cf29de75afe697a1a8f31cb7942189cffa056fd61436e41a&width=400&height=225)
Muhammah Abbas Chamas, 65, son of Abbas Assadallah Chamas, 94, after a Chamas clan meeting.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KCPV4G6YFRM726EQDLZVBJGJ5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=2e1cea27cd4841a2cd25d4ca71020122834814858a0e53b3f266f262751f5d9d&width=400&height=225)
Abu Hassan Jaafar, smoking a cigarette at one of his homes in Baalbek.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TVZU3IFE32TQKFXGGB3ZIQRKJM.jpg?smart=true&auth=0a9e91996e2d684a7580fd60971e72ee94001f41dbf2b8fa4bc2a3e9659e7489&width=400&height=225)
A member of the Chamas clan responds to sounds of machinegun fire at a clan meeting.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F5WF4MY5VZFVT4KZHJX7Q4WWMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa0cc4d88c555a630d2a8f9d895d8c5832701ef18e67c14d355ca0b830687d31&width=400&height=225)
Abbas Assadallah Chamas, 94, sips a coffee after a clan meeting to discuss the family's response to the killing of a member.
Rockets, ruins, and revenge: Clan violence spirals in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley
Three years after the fatal shooting of DVD shopkeeper Issa Jaafar, the killing risks igniting a tribal war that a weakened Lebanon appears powerless to prevent, reports Sunniva Rose in Baalbek
![Sunniva Rose](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fd93fbde0-cf2f-4d2e-acc7-b14e52792d7e.png?smart=true&auth=57edc0da25baac19cd43f67c9290ec8b1bbaefeb3d446f19573f3fc84057b92e&width=70&height=70)
Sunniva Rose
20 January, 2021
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