Lebanese forces began engaging Arab terrorists in the Nahr al-Bared camp near Tripoli Saturday.
The Lebanese army has surrounded the slums since the Islamist terrorists belonging to an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group called Fatah al-Islam attacked Lebanese soldiers. The slums are populated by Arabs who left Israel and Jordan tens of years ago.
More than 33 Lebanese soldiers and 50 Islamists have been killed in the clashes, along with at least 11 residents of the slums, as well as more than 100 wounded.
Though thousands have fled due to the fighting, many remain in the slums. Lebanon allowed a limited amount of food and medicine in before the fighting broke out once again. The army is refraining from entering Nahr al-Bared due to a 1969 agreement that allows these non-Lebanese Arab neighborhoods to maintain their own weapons and autonomy.
Al Jazeera broadcast a message from Shakir (Yousef) al-Abssi, the self-proclaimed terrorist behind the group, in which he promised to continue to battle “the Americans and the Jews.” The man wore a Yasser Arafat-style kaffiyeh. "We wish to die for the sake of God... Sunni people are the spearhead against the Zionist Americans."
Al-Abssi elaborated, accusing the Lebanese leadership of collaborating with America, which recently delivered weapons and equipment to Lebanon to help defeat the Islamic group. "We say to you, the guardians of the American project, the Sunni people will be leaders in fighting the Jews, the Americans and their loyalists.” The video of the statement was interspersed with footage of Fatah al-Islam training camps.
At least eight cargo planes full of military equipment have landed in Beirut since Thursday, according to local reports. Four were from the US Air Force, two from the United Arab Emirates and two from Jordan. Four more American shipments are expected.
Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah issued a call Friday, warning Lebanon’s government not to enter Nahr al-Bared, but calling for the Fatah al-Islam members who attacked Lebanese soldiers to be brought to justice. He also criticized Lebanon’s acceptance of American aid and warned against being drafted into the US’s war against Al-Qaeda.
"The problem in the north can be solved politically and through the judiciary in a way that protects the Lebanese army, our Palestinian brothers, the state and peace and stability without transforming Lebanon into a battleground in which we fight Al-Qaeda on behalf of the Americans," Nasrallah said in an address broadcast on Hizbullah’s Al-Manar television. The terror-chief said he was not defending Fatah al-Islam, but seeking to preserve the Lebanese army, which he said was the last thing unifying the country.
Lebanese President Fouad Saniora responded to the Hizbullah chief, saying the criticism stemmed from a desire to "keep the army weak in order to justify the presence of other armies."
Began as a Bank Robbery
The episode began with Lebanese police pursuing Fatah al-Islam members who had robbed the Middle East Bank near Tripoli. The thieves were surrounded in a Tripoli house, but members of the terror groups began launching mortars from Nahr al-Bared at Lebanese soldiers manning the entrance to the area, killing several.
Lebanese army artillery and tanks surrounded the area and retaliated with barrages of shells, striking buildings and passersby.
Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal dispatched Hamas emissary Osama Hamdan to take part in a meeting with Siniora, together with representatives from Fatah and other PA terror groups. The groups were concerned that Lebanon would enter the camps and disarm the various terror groups operating there.
The Lebanese government says they are allowing time for a negotiated surrender of Fatah al-Islam terrorists, but, if that fails, the military will be sent in to destroy the group. Lebanese analysts, however, believe there will be a symbolic negotiated agreement that will leave Fatah al-Islam intact.
