Posted on 05/19/2007 10:11:54 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) - Lebanese forces fought Islamic militants with alleged links to al-Qaida in the northern city of Tripoli and an adjacent Palestinian refugee camp early Sunday, causing casualties on both sides, security officials and witnesses said.
The fighting between troops surrounding the refugee camp of Nahr el-Bared and fighters from the Fatah Islam militant group began after a gunbattle raged in a neighborhood of Tripoli, Lebanon's second-largest city,
Witnesses said Fatah Islam gunmen seized Lebanese army positions at the entrance to the camp, capturing military vehicles. The army brought in reinforcements and fired on Fatah-Islam positions.
The clashes in the camp began shortly after police raided an apartment in Tripoli that was occupied by armed militants who resisted arrest and sparked a gunbattle that spread to surrounding streets.
Casualties were reported, according to witnesses and to the New TV station in Beirut. Police had no immediate casualty figure.
Ahmed Fatfat, minister of sports and youths who is from northern Lebanon, said security forces raided hideouts of the militants in Tripoli neighborhoods. He said on LBC television there were casualties among the security forces but could not give a figure.
The identity of the militants in Tripoli could not be immediately determined but they are believed to be members of the same Fatah Islam group. Tripoli, a predominantly Sunni Muslim city, is known to have Islamic fundamentalists.
In April, a Lebanese soldier was killed in a shootout with Fatah-Islam gunmen at the edge of Nahr el-Bared, a camp of 30,000 refugees.
Lebanon's anti-Syrian government blamed Fatah Islam for a bus bombing in February in the Christian heartland northeast of Beirut that killed three people and say the group is merely a front for Syrian intelligence. The group has denied involvement in the bus bombing.
The group is an offshoot of the pro-Syrian Fatah Uprising. Fatah Uprising broke from the mainstream Fatah faction in the early 1980s and has headquarters in Syria.
The dozen Palestinian refugee camps scattered in Lebanon are off limits to authorities and some are controlled by armed guerrillas and are havens for outlaws.
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Do you remember about North Lebanon and Tripoli? All that was predictable.
http://siteinstitute.org/bin/articles.cgi?ID=publications230506&Category=publications&Subcategory=0
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/03/05/070305fa_fact_hersh
Correct, these terrorists came from Syria, supported and trained by the Syrian terrorist regime.
I am going to quote Sejaan Azzi (general manager of Sawt Loubnan Al Horr) today on LBC with Walid Abboud:
the delegates of the Lebanese Army were at stake several times these few months with the government during the meetings of the superior council of the defense (al majlis al a3la lil difa3) about taking a political decision to finish with Fath al islam.
RIGHT NOW AN EXPLOSION IN ACHRAFIEH, I CANNOT SEE IT FROM MY PLACE.
between ABC and Spinney’s Achrafieh (Mar Mitr)
Please keep me update on the Achrafieh bombing. God help Lebanon.
That is all part of the Syrian and Iranian terrorist regimes plan to destabilize Lebanon, Iraq, and the whole Middle East. These Fath Al Islam terrorists came to Lebanon from Syria and they are supported and trained by the Syrian terrorist regime. Of course the Syrians and Iranian also have Hibzallah a much bigger and more dangerous terrorist group in Lebanon that not only can cause death and destruction inside Lebanon but also in the whole region.
we are waiting for a direct coverage.
for Fath Al Islam, the government meeting this evevening did not take any decision concerning a radical operation. it confirms the words of Sejaan Azzi about the government refusing to take any decision.
The terrorists of Tripoli were from different nationalities, including Bangladeshis, Yemenis and othe arabs. They were equipped with explosive belts which some of them used when they were to be taken prisones (as for Aboul Abbas who blew himself on the top of a building inside Tripoli). This confirms the news that they are indoctrinated by Al Qaeda.
I have no doubt that they are connected in one way or another to Al Qaeda. The point is that they are supported and trained by Syria and they were sent to Lebanon long time ago by the Syrian terrorist regime to cause troubles. Syria planned very well on how to destabilize Lebanon in case they were forced to leave as it happened to them in 2005. Fath Al Islam is one of the terrorist groups the Syrians trained to cause troubles in Lebanon, Hizballah is still their main tool to destablize the country.
On local TV channels no deaths, a few wounded. but the explosion was powerful. 4 cars destroyed. it was in the parking of the Fidelity building. fortunatly it seems that no one was near the explosion.
Reuters says that a woman was killed.
Thanks for the update. I am getting an online live feed on what is going at the moment in Lebanon, LBC is saying one woman is dead because of this bombing.
in the meantime, Nahr al bared is hermetically scealed. the army is firing illuminating rounds over it. All TV anchors ask for a decisive action. I feel that jund al sham and other groups to make a move Ain al Helweh (Saida).
Thanks for the update. I heard that the Lebanese army killed so far 19 terrorists. The army needs to annihilate them, period.
“Thanks for the update. I heard that the Lebanese army killed so far 19 terrorists. The army needs to annihilate them, period.”
Lebanese Army, Terrorists, what’s the difference?
Big difference. Your post is showing huge ignorance.
“Big difference. Your post is showing huge ignorance.”
No, your comment does. I appreciate your translation posts, but you’re all wrong here.
See this post of mine.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1837117/posts?page=4#4
MY guts twinge when I hear the Siniora govt called ‘anti-Syrian.’ They’re pro—Hizballah - they sat on their hands while Hizballah used their nation as a launching ground for a terrorist war. In some cases they helped actively. Islamist Palestinian groups have attacked Israel from Lebanon before - the Lebanese Army never did a thing to disarm them. They are good at keeping the Palestinian fires stoked by denying them college education and jobs, though - another peoxya rmy. Imagine their surprise when their guests go and rob a bank, then fight to keep the money. The Lebanese Army give the palestinian terrorists exactly what they want - a miserable support base with no opportunity, and the right to smuggle in weapons and crosstrain with Hizballah.
The Sanioura government is in hard spot regarding the disarming of Hizballah terrorist group. The Lebanese government is afraid that an attempt to disarm Hizballah by force will lead to a new civil war in Lebanon. I disagree with them, and if the fight against Hizballah leads to a civil war then let it be. However it is a lie to say that Sanioura government is pro-Hizballah or pro-terrorism as you are saying.
“However it is a lie to say that Sanioura government is pro-Hizballah or pro-terrorism as you are saying.”
They made pro-Hizballah statements during the war. No criticism for Hizballah - praise in fact.
They sat on their thumbs and did nothing.
In some cases the Lebanese army assisted Hizballah.
I don’t see how, looking through the ME prism, you can see the Siniora govt’s tacit approval as anything but. The most we get from them is a protest and a wink.
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