BEIRUT, LEBANON (BNO NEWS) – Two men, one of them a senior Hezbollah member, were killed on Tuesday after Shiite-Sunni clashes in Beirut, Lebanon.

The clashes took place in the neighborhood of Burj Abi Haidar in Beirut between supporters of the Shiite Hezbollah group and the Sunni al-Ahbash faction.

The conflict began when a Hezbollah supporter engaged in a fight with a Sunni one. It soon escalated into a shootout and machine guns and rocket propelled grenades were used. So far, it is not clear who began the gunshots.

“The toll now is two killed. They are both from Hezbollah. One of them is Mohammad Fawaz who is in charge of Burj Abi Haidar sector,” an official said.

However, other reports indicate that one of the deceased is indeed Fawaz but the other is an al-Ahbash faction supporter. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah did not comment on the issue during his live speech.

The Lebanese army was deployed to the streets of Burj Abi Haidar. The clashes are currently under control according to the military but witnesses said the fighting is ongoing.

The area has been cordoned off and no one is allowed in. Journalists at the scene said that sounds related to gunfire were audible.

No official information has been released at the moment and more details are expected soon.

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