Armed confrontations in and around al-Fardan Camp, on the outskirts of Harem, have entered their second day following a major government-led security operation against Firqat al-Ghuraba, a foreign fighter faction commanded by Omar Diaby, a French national. The initial spark for the operation, the alleged kidnapping of a girl by Diaby’s group, quickly evolved into a broader campaign targeting the entrenched network of foreign militants in northwest Syria.
Following the deployment, Internal Security Forces (ISF) units issued a formal demand for Omar Diaby to surrender and vacate the camp peacefully. When negotiations failed, Diaby reportedly refused to comply, fortified himself within the camp, and prevented civilians from leaving, prompting the ISF to initiate a fullscale security operation to restore order and protect residents.
Government forces continue to engage with entrenched fighters amid reports of drone strikes, small-arms fire, and close-quarter skirmishes within the camp’s perimeter. The confrontation has expanded since Wednesday morning, when Uzbek Islamist militants began arriving to reinforce the French contingent, turning what was initially a localized raid into a complex, multi-faction battle.
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Scope
Regional
Intervention Sectors
Human Rights & Protection
Organisation
Date
Countries
Lebanon