Lebanese Army Enters Nahr-Al_Bared Refugee Camp
Lebanese Army seizes Fatah al-Islam positions
Government gives military ‘green light’ to deal with security crisis in north
By Rym Ghazal
Daily Star, Lebanon
NAHR AL-BARED, NORTH LEBANON: Covered by an intense artillery barrage, the Lebanese Army drove Fatah al-Islam militants back from the periphery of the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp Friday, with the army taking over militants’ positions along the camp’s perimeter. Residents of areas surrounding Nahr al-Bared awoke Friday to one of the heaviest battles between the army and the militants since clashes broke out two weeks ago, as the army pounded away with tank fire and artillery beginning at about 7 a.m., breaking the usual routine of heavy nighttime exchanges of fire.
Palestinian factions work to end fighting
But abu al-aynayn says fatah-al-islam ’should be readily crushed’
Beirut — BEIRUT : Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Beirut representative Abbas Zaki said Friday various that Palestinian factions were working on ending the fighting at Nahr al-Bared “in a way that would yield minimal side effects.” “We are ready to cooperate fully with the Lebanese Army and government to solve the crisis, yet it is important to act fast, because if fighting persists the suffering of Palestinians will increase and additional burdens will seep through and the crisis will worsen,” Zaki said after a meeting with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora at the Grand Serail.
Fatah commander in Lebanon Brigadier Sultan Abu al-Aynayn said in comments to LBCI television “…While it is true that we might disagree on the means, a positive sign lies in the fact that various Palestinian and Lebanese groups agree that Fatah al-Islam should be readily crushed,” Aynayn said.