BEIRUT: Lebanese troops entered the Burj Al-Barajneh refugee camp in Beirut’s southern suburbs late on Thursday and began collecting the first weapons surrendered as part of a government move to disarm Palestinian factions. The weapons handover is part of a broader disarmament push that follows a Lebanese government decision, announced on Aug. 5, to limit possession of arms exclusively to the state. It also follows an earlier meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, held on May 21 in Beirut.

PM’s office says the weapons transfer to the Lebanese army marks the start of a wider disarmament campaign.

BEIRUT: Armed Palestinian groups in refugee camps in Lebanon will start handing over their weapons to the authorities on Thursday, a joint committee said, following a deal reached…