The sieges, which started in January, set off clashes on several fronts across the country, marked by a rise in the number of cross-sectarian abductions. As Christian militias were laying siege to Palestinian camps and Muslim-populated neighborhoods in East Beirut and its suburbs, Palestinian and Muslim militias were attacking Christians in cities and villages in North Lebanon and the Beqaa, as well as on the southern coastal road. This displaced the Christian population from these areas. In central Beirut, NM militias attacked Christian militias in the areas of Kantari and Ain al-Mreisseh. On January 8, 1976, residential areas in East Beirut (Ashrafieh, Sioufi, Geitawi, and Dfouni) came under intense shelling from Ras al-Nabeh, Bechara al-Khoury, and Tel al-Zaatar, all of which were under the NM’s control.