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A joint security force representing multiple Palestinian factions has been deployed in Ain al-HilwehÌýin southern Lebanon, in a move that could smooth tensions at the refugee camp.

Ain Al-Hilweh, home to aroundÌý80,000 of Lebanon's nearly 500,000 Palestinian refugees, witnessed fierceÌýclashes between the Fatah movement and Islamist groups this month, leaving at least 30 people dead.Ìý

A spokesperson for Fatah in Lebanon toldÌý°®Âþµº'sÌýLebanon correspondent thatÌý"the joint security patrol started today in Ain al-Hilweh".

The Fatah movement is affiliated with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas while the Islamist groups include Jund Al-Sham ("Army of the Sham region") and Al-Shabab Al-Moslem ("The Muslim Youth").Ìý

°Õ³ó±ðÌýfirefights, which occurred between 7 and 14 September, preceded a similar of outbreak of violence at the camp in early August. A ceasefire announced on 14 September is still holding.

°Õ³ó±ðÌýjoint securityÌýforceÌýcommenced operations in the camp on Monday morning, according to the Lebanese newspaper L'Orient-Le Jour following aÌýmeeting chaired by its commander, General Mahmoud Ajoury, outlining the deployment »å±ð³Ù²¹¾±±ô²õ.Ìý

The force will patrol the "two critical areas of the camp" - the neighbourhoods of Hattine-Ras El-Ahmar and Safsaf-Baraksat which witnessed the fiercest fighting this month.

"If this initial deployment proves successful, attention will shift to the UNRWA school complex," he toldÌýL'Orient-Le Jour, hinting at a possible second phase in the operations.Ìý

Under the now-defunct 1969 Cairo Agreement, the Lebanese military has historically been prevented from intervening in the country's Palestinian refugee camps. Instead, security is maintained by a host of Palestinian factions.

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