More than 120,000 Syrian refugees in Arsal after Assad regime and Hezbollah occupied their hometown in the summer of 2013

Chief of LIFE Organization for Democracy and Human Rights, Nabil el-Halabi, questioned on Saturday (July 1) the Lebanese authorities’ claims that suicide bombers entered the Syrian refugee camp in Arsal, arguing that the city is tightly surrounded and under strict inspection by the Lebanese army checkpoints.

The Lebanese army said in a statement released on Friday (July 30) that a bomber blew himself up during a military raid on el-Nour camp in the eastern town of Arsal, injuring three soldiers. The statement also claimed that 3 other bombers detonated themselves in the camp, but did cause any injuries.

Through his Facebook page, el-Halabi refuted the Lebanese army’s claims and in turn reported that “19 Syrian refugees from one camp were killed, including a child and a man with amputated legs.”

“The Lebanese soldiers then threw grenades into the refugee camp and fired live bullets,” the Lebanese lawyer added.

The Lebanese rights activist then called on the Lebanese jurists to investigate the violations of the army, stressing that "there are racists in the Lebanese society covering these practices."

“Where are the pictures of the remains of the suicide bombers whom the army said they attacked?” he asked.

Calls for protection

In the meantime, the Syrian refugees whose rights were being violated issued a statement, urging for immediate international protection under the auspices of the United Nations.

In the statement, they “urged for immediate protection under the auspices of the United Nations “to ensure their free mobility.”

“Or at least secure areas along the border which are not governed or run by Assad regime and could be directly monitored by the UN to ensure the safety and freedom of the people,” the statement added.

The Syrian refugees also suggested “securing safe corridors through international protection for the Syrians who wish to relocate inside Syria, like Idlib or Jarablus.”

This statement comes hours after the Lebanese authorities stormed into Arsal area, killing 19 Syrian refugees and detaining 400 under the pretext of combating terrorism despite the repeated calls by the Syrian refugees that they are "all civilians.”

More than 120,000 Syrian refugees, the majority of whom are from al-Qusayr -- a Syrian town in Homs countryside, fled to the bordering Lebanese town of Arsal after Assad regime and Hezbollah occupied their hometown in the summer of 2013.