BEIRUT: At least 10 people have been injured near the southern city of Nabatiyeh in a brawl between members of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement.

Late last week, a scuffle between Amal Movement supporter Bilal Shoeib and Hezbollah member Jihad Shoeib developed into a major altercation, the source said.

The fight took place at Bilal’s vegetable store, which is next door to his home, and followed on the heels of an arson attack on the office of the Mayor of Sharkieh, which is near Nabatiyeh, a source close to the Mayor told The Daily Star by telephone Monday.

After an exchange with Bilal, Jihad called in Hezbollah men, who showed up by the dozens minutes later armed with sharp objects.

Three cars filled with Hezbollah men also parked nearby to monitor the scene, according to the source, who also witnessed the incident.

He said the Hezbollah group attacked Bilal, his family and friends, who had rallied around him.

“Bilal and those around him were taken by surprise,” the source said.

He said Bilal sustained serious wounds to the head, shoulders and other parts of his body during the clash.

At least nine other men – all Amal supporters – were wounded and taken to various Nabatiyeh hospitals for treatment of fractures and wounds. They remained in hospitals Monday.

Earlier Sunday night, two masked men broke into Bilal’s home, attacking his wife, Dalia.

“I heard a knock on the door at around 9 in the evening. I opened the door to see two masked men. One of them hit me hard on the head with something heavy, then punched me in the mouth,” Dalia told The Daily Star. “I fainted.”

Dalia said neighbors took her to hospital after her six-year-old daughter screamed for help.

Dalia, who also has two sons aged 4 years and 18 months, said she was treated for a head injury.

Sharkieh’s Mayor, Hani Shoeib, was not reachable for comment. Aides said he was visiting the wounded in hospitals Monday.

Security sources could not confirm the fighting. However, they told The Daily Star the brawl had been the result of a long-running dispute between Jihad Shoeib and his relative, retired first adjutant Abdel-Raouf Shoeib.

They said the dispute was reignited with Jihad’s return from Germany last week. Shortly after his return, Jihad’s Mercedes-Benz was raked with bullets in a shooting attack, and assailants tried to set his house on fire, the sources said.

They said Raouf, who now lies in Nabatiyeh’s government hospital after falling ill, is under police guard for suspicion that he may have been involved in the attack on Jihad.