Lebanon Battles Radical Militants

Fighting In Palestinian Refugee Camp Leaves Dozens Dead

(AP)  Lebanese tanks pounded the headquarters of a group with suspected links to al Qaeda in a Palestinian refugee camp near Tripoli Sunday after the northern city's worst clashes in two decades killed 22 soldiers and 17 militants.

The clashes between troops surrounding the Nahr el-Bared camp and Fatah Islam fighters began early in the morning shortly after police raided a militant-occupied apartment on a major thoroughfare in Tripoli and a gunbattle erupted, witnesses said.

Hundreds of Lebanese applauded at the army as its tanks shelled the camp — a sign of the long-standing tensions between some Lebanese and the tens of thousands of Palestinians who took refuge from fighting in Israel over the past decades.

"We strongly back the Lebanese army troops and what they are doing," said Abed Attar, a resident of Tripoli who stood watching the tanks fire into the camp while others cheered.

Ten militants were killed in the building in Tripoli and seven in the refugee camp, security officials said. They said 22 soldiers had also been killed.

The violence adds one more destabilizing factor to conflict-ridden Lebanon, already in the midst of its worst political crisis between the Western-backed government and pro-Syrian opposition since the end of the 1975-90 Lebanese civil war.

It was a rare clash between the Lebanese army and militants and the first major fighting between the security forces and Palestinians since the early 90s when troops fought Palestinian guerrillas in Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp in southern Lebanon.

The tiny Fatah Islam is an offshoot of the pro-Syrian Fatah Uprising, which broke from the mainstream Palestinian Fatah movement in the early 1980s and has headquarters in Syria.

The group is allegedly led by Shaker Youssef al-Absi, a Palestinian living in Syria who was sentenced to death in absentia in July 2004 by a Jordanian military court. Al-Absi was found guilty of conspiring to terrorism in a plot that lead to the assassination in Jordan of U.S. diplomat Laurence Foley. Former al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was accused of masterminding the killing.

Some Lebanese security officials now consider Fatah Islam a radical Sunni Muslim group with ties to al Qaeda, or at least al Qaeda style militancy and doctrine. But some anti-Syrian government officials say they are a front for Syrian military intelligence aimed at destabilizing Lebanon.

Syria, which has been fighting its own Sunni militancy, said it had temporarily closed two border crossings with northern Lebanon because of safety concerns over the clashes.

A senior security official said a high-ranking member of Fatah Islam, known as Abu Yazan, was among those killed. Security officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

A Fatah Islam spokesman, Abu Salim said he had no information on the report.

"Many houses have been destroyed," Abu Salim told The Associated Press by phone from inside the camp.

The fighting injured 19 soldiers and 14 police officers, security officials said.

Authorities said the raid that triggered the clashes was part of a police search for suspects in a bank robbery a day earlier in Amyoun, a town southeast of Tripoli. Gunmen made off with $125,000 in cash in the robbery.

The armed militants resisted arrest and a gunbattle ensued. It spread to surrounding streets and continued through the afternoon.

Witnesses said the militants then seized Lebanese army positions at the entrance to the camp, capturing two armored carriers. The gunmen also opened fire on roads leading to the city and ambushed a military unit, killing two soldiers, security officials said.

Smoke billowed from the camp as a steady barrage of artillery and heavy machine gun fire from army positions pounded militant positions inside.

By midmorning, the army had brought reinforcements and was firing on Fatah Islam positions.

Prime Minister Fuad Saniora said the fighting was a "dangerous attempt at hitting Lebanese security" and called on the Lebanese to rally behind the government.

As many other small factions in Lebanon, Fatah Islam's allegiance is sometimes questionable in this deeply polarized country.

Major Palestinian factions have dissociated themselves from Fatah Islam.

The dozen Palestinian refugee camps scattered in Lebanon are off limits to authorities, and some are controlled by armed guerrillas. Lebanese troops usually cordon off the camps with checkpoints. Their presence around Nahr el-Bared increased in recent months after Fatah Islam stepped up its actions.

The Lebanese army fought the Israelis occasionally during last summer's war. The army also played a major role in quelling Shiite-Sunni disturbances and riots in January in Beirut.

In 2000, Lebanese army fought major gun battles with Lebanese Islamic militants in which more than a dozen people were killed in Dinniyah, in the remote mountains near Tripoli.

[radiob-2009]

If you listen to feelfree1 he'll convince you to feed the turtle that the world rests on.
Posted by ToolMangler

Is it a tortuise or a turtle? That has to be one thick shell? What would the turtle eat, spinach like Popeye? ; )

[toolmangler-2009]

If you listen to feelfree1 he'll convince you to feed the turtle that the world rests on.

[toolmangler-2009]

I am well aware that it was primarily Hezbullah fighters that deafeated the IDF, and defended the people of Lebanon last summer.
Posted by FeelFree1 at 06:36 PM : May 20, 2007



"The conflict killed over 1,200 people, most of whom were Lebanese, severely damaged Lebanese infrastructure, displaced nearly 975,000 Lebanese and 300,000 Israelis and disrupted normal life across all of Lebanon and northern Israel. Even after the ceasefire, much of Southern Lebanon remained uninhabitable due to unexploded cluster bombs. As of 1 December 2006, an estimated 200,000 Lebanese remained internally displaced or refugees."


And you call that a butt-whipping? Do the math.

[radiob-2009]

Does that mean you have come to a decision that Columbus was wrong, radiob? ;)
Posted by ToolMangler

Good evening Toolmangler, it is always a pleasure to read your wit. According to some Columbus was wrong and we have fell off the face of the earth.Extremist to the left extremist to the right of every shape and color imaginable seeing in black and white or watching with their eyes closed.Where are the moderates?

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by radiob at 06:27 PM : May 20, 2007


Does that mean you have come to a decision that Columbus was wrong, radiob? ;)

[feelfree1]

radiob,

Re: "It was Hezzbollah that fought the Israelis."

I believe that Hezbullah forces had broad support from the population, since the population had mostly only support from Hezbullah members (defense, reparations, etc.)

The capture of two soldiers is hardly justification for the invasion and collective punishment of civilians in a neighboring country. Israel's disproportionate onslaught and invasion represents another war of aggression by the Israelis.

On top of that, the Israelis committed a series of heinous war crimes during the conflict. I am glad that someone stepped up to restrain Israel in this case, and to defend the people of Lebanon.

The Israelis were categorically wrong, in this case.

[radiob-2009]

Re: "The Lebanese army fought the Israelis occasionally during last summer's war."

Lebanon handed the Israeli Army's arse to them last summer, more like.
Posted by FeelFree1


From your post, whether implied or not the perception can easily be construed as the Lebanon Army defeated the Israeli army. It was Hezzbollah that fought the Israelis.

[feelfree1]

matisyahu3,

Re: "It wasn't the Lebanon army that was fighting Israel..."

Please re-read my post. I did not mention any 'Lebanon army'.

I am well aware that it was primarily Hezbullah fighters that deafeated the IDF, and defended the people of Lebanon last summer.

[radiob-2009]

The world is Flat

All democrats are weak and cave into other nations

All Republicans are war mongers

All Religions promote the destruction of others

Only my religion is the correct one

All that oppose the war are giving into the terrorist

All that support the war are neocons that have never served in the military

Israel creates all of the US problems

All Palestinians are terrorist

All Israelis want to wage war against the Palestinians

All Iranians want the destruction of the US and Israel

All Iranians are nice people there words are misunderstood

All Americans want to colonize the world

All Arabs want to colonize the world.

9-11 was a conspiracy planned by unnamed individuals to thrust the US into a war.

9-11 was a calculate move by all Muslims to overthrow the world.


The world is flat now once again.

[matisyahu3]

Lebanon handed the Israeli Army's arse to them last summer, more like.
Posted by FeelFree1 at 05:50 PM : May 20, 2007

Get your stuff straight. It wasn't the Lebanon army that was fighting Israel, it was in fact Hezbollah, an aggressive political group in Lebanon. The lebanese army did not get involved in that fight. What the author is mentioning is that there is land in Turkey/Israel where they fight over whose it is. Get YOUR information right next time.

[feelfree1]

Re: "Some Lebanese security officials now consider Fatah Islam a radical Sunni Muslim group with ties to al Qaeda, or at least al Qaeda style militancy and doctrine."

What an asinine and meaningless claim.

CBS appears to be openly basing its 'newz' on baseless the imaginations and useless speculation of unidentified 'officials'.

CBS is clearly doing its part in demonizing brown people, with this kind of nonsense. 'Hamiltongrad' appears to approve.

[j-whitman]

Hamiltongrad,, You say the Left won't see the truth & is afraid to confront Evil ??????

THE TRUTH IS AMERICA VOTED FOR A CHANGE OF DIRECTIONS -- THE LEFT, WANTS REAL SUPPORT & WINNING PLANS FOR OUR TROOPS - NOT YOUR IGNORANT RHETORIC

YOU NEED TO START CONFRONTING THE EVIL INSIDE YOU HAMILTONGRAD.

[feelfree1]

Hamiltongrad,

You hope for others to slaughter Muslims for you, because some YMCAS were closed? Does this appraoch really seem reasonable to you?

Did you actually attend any classes at Hamilton, or did you buy your degree over the Internet?

[j-whitman]

fredgrad2000,,,, Yes, Bush is indeed funding radical Sunni militants (al Quida like groups) in several countries including in Africa ---- Bush is also supporting dictatorships, Egypt ----- But if you followed the news, it shouldn't be a surprise to you..... Take a look at Zionist Isreal who he's also supporting in waging proxy wars on zionist driven Isreali intellegence.

[hamiltongrad]

This just goes to show the threat of the radical Islamics and our our LEFTIST who live in a wonderland of denial.
The Islamic nuts what to kill all Christians, Jews, and others who they consider no better than animals. They are intolerant. Our LEFT is so Tolerant that they can not see the truth, and they do not feel comfortable with confronting EVIL.


DID YOU KNOW THAT ALL YMCAS HAVE BEEN OUTLAWED IN PALESTIN. TERRITORIES BY PLO AND HAMAS ? SO MUCH FOR PEACE LOVING PEOPLE. THEY MAY USE IRAQ OR ISRAEL FOR EXCUSE TO DO THEIR EVIL DEED.

[feelfree1]

Re: "Lebanese tanks pounded the headquarters of a group with suspected links to al Qaeda"

Another unsubstantiated article, by some mystery writer, citing unfounded 'links', made by anonymous 'officials'.

Is Mark Strassmann (CBS answer to Judith Miller) reporting on Lebanon now?

Has CBS completely abondoned the concept of investigative journalism?

Re: "The Lebanese army fought the Israelis occasionally during last summer's war."

Lebanon handed the Israeli Army's arse to them last summer, more like.

[fredgrad2000]

Ridiculous - cite you proof of that one - makes a lot of sense...how about the much more likely scenario, that Iran and Syria are funding any group that will destablize Western allied Middle Eastern governments since their regimes don't want Democracy to take hold in the region anywhere, even little Lebanon. Bush is funding the Al Qaeda groups?! Keep taking the LSD bud...destabilizing even further the Siniora government only helps Syria and Iran in their aims.

[bluestardad]

BUSH IS FUNDING AL QAEDA IN NORTHERN LEBANON TO COUNTER ANTI ISRAELI FORCES THERE. HE IS USING IRAQI WAR FUNDS WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL APPROVIAL!

IMPEACH BUCH CHENEY THEY WORK FOR ISRAEL NOT AMERICA!

[sevenveils]

Is this the thanks Palestinian refugees offer their host country for refuge?

This indicates that Syria is arming Palestinians for their proxy war against Israel.