Lebanese soldiers stand guard outside an army base in the southern city of Tyre, on August 28, 2025, upon arrival of trucks transporting weapons handed over by armed Palestinian groups in refugee camps to the Lebanese authorities following a deal reached in May. AFP
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, seven trucks loaded with light weapons and RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenades exited three Palestinian camps in the southern city of Tyre before being transferred to nearby army barracks.
Palestinian presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh confirmed that the relevant Palestinian authorities in Lebanon handed over on Thursday the weapons of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Tyre’s camps to the Lebanese army.
He stated that the camps involved were Rashidieh, Al-Buss, and Burj Al-Shamali, noting that the disarmament process would gradually extend to other camps across Lebanon.
The move follows a similar handover last week, when the Palestinian National Liberation Movement, Fatah, delivered its weapons from Burj Al-Barajneh camp in Beirut’s southern suburbs, marking the first stage of the disarmament plan.
These measures stem from decisions taken at the Lebanese-Palestinian summit held in May, which brought together Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The summit reaffirmed Lebanon’s sovereignty and the principle that arms should be exclusively in the hands of the state.
The Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee also met in May to outline a framework and timeline for addressing the long-standing issue of Palestinian weapons in Lebanon.
Palestinian camps in Lebanon
Palestinian refugee camps are spread across Lebanon, particularly in areas that once hosted the largest concentrations of Palestinian refugees.
Beirut includes Shatila camp in the southern suburbs, Burj Al-Barajneh in the western part of the city, and Mar Elias camp in the heart of the capital.
In southern Lebanon, Ain Al-Hilweh camp near the city of Sidon is the largest Palestinian camp in the country in terms of population and is home to a wide array of factions.
Nearby lies Mieh Mieh camp, while the Rashidieh, Al-Buss, and Burj Al-Shamali camps are located close to the city of Tyre.
In northern Lebanon, the Nahr Al-Bared camp is situated near the city of Tripoli, adjacent to the Beddawi camp to the north of the city.
Further east in the Beqaa Valley, smaller camps such as Al-Jalil in western Beqaa host more limited refugee populations.
State monopoly on arms
In a joint statement issued last May, Presidents Aoun and Abbas emphasized their commitment to restricting weapons to state institutions and eliminating any “abnormal” security presence.
They stressed that Palestinian camps must not become safe havens for extremists, highlighting both nations’ shared suffering over decades of conflict, displacement, and violence.
The two sides also pledged to strengthen cooperation in counterterrorism efforts and to ensure Palestinian camps are not exploited by armed groups.
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