2007 Lebanon conflict

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=2007 Lebanon conflict


caption= The shelling of Nahr al-Bared
partof=the War on Terrorism
place=Fighting: Nahr al-Bared, Tripoli, Ain al-Hilweh
Bombings: Beirut, Aley, Zouk Mosbeh
Attack on UNIFIL: Khiyam
date=May 20 - September 7 2007
result=Lebanese victory
combatant1=
combatant1=
combatant2=

commander1=Michel Sulaiman
Francois al-Hajj
commander2=Shaker al-Abssi
Abu Youssef SharqiehPOW
Abu HureiraKIA
strength1=72,100 troops
strength2=450 Fatah militants,
50 Jund militants,
unknown number of
al-Qaeda bombers
casualties1=Northern casualties:
168 killed,
400-500 wounded
Southern casualties:
2 killed, 6 wounded
casualties2=Fatah al-Islam casualties:
226 killed, 218 captured (Lebanese claim)
Jund al-Sham casualties:
5 killed
Bomber cells: 7 killed, 18 captured
casualties3=Civilian casualties:
52 killed in the fighting,
12 killed in the bombings
International Red Cross:
2 killed
UNIFIL:
6 soldiers killed, 2 wounded
notes=Casualties sources: [http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2007/09/lebanons_army_a_1.php Lebanon's army announces its Nahr al-Bared death toll | Ya Libnan | Lebanon News Live from Beirut ] ] Campaignbox LebanonThe 2007 Lebanon conflict began when fighting broke out between Fatah al-Islam, an Islamist militant organization, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) on May 20, 2007 in Nahr al-Bared, an UNRWA Palestinian refugee camp near Tripoli. It was the most severe internal fighting since Lebanon's 1975–90 civil war. The conflict evolved mostly around the Siege of Nahr el-Bared, but minor clashes also occurred in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in southern Lebanon and several terrorist bombings took place in and around Lebanon's capital Beirut. Fighting continued into early September and the LAF declared victory on September 7.

Famed investigative journalist Seymour Hersh said on CNN that Fatah al-Islam was being funded by Saudi Arabia through Bandar bin Sultan, as a result of an agreement among Dick Cheney, Elliott Abrams and Bandar "whereby the Saudis would covertly fund the Sunni Fatah al-Islam in Lebanon as a counterweight to the Shia Hezbollah". He also stated that the Lebanese government, led by the Sunni Future Movement, was providing support for the group. [cite news|url=http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Hersh_Bush_arranged_support_for_militants_0522.html|title=

Hersh: Bush administration arranged support for militants attacking Lebanon|publisher=The Raw Story|date=May 22, 2007 |accessdate=2008-05-12]

Background

Nahr al-Bared refugee camp

Lebanon is home to more than 350,000 Palestinian refugees, some 215,000 of whom live in camps, [ [http://mobile.newsweek.com/detail.jsp?key=9611&rc=dick_co&p=3&pv=1 Lebanon’s New War(s)] ] including the descendants of those who fled from Israel during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. In 1962, Palestinians were categorized as foreigners in Lebanon, regardless of how long they had lived there. Non-Lebanese, which included the refugees, were restricted from working in over 70 skilled professions until 2005, when new legislation officially opened 50 such jobs to them. The civil war left Lebanon's government and the general Lebanese populace deeply suspicious of Palestinian refugees because of their involvement in the Lebanese war. But, under a 1969 Arab accord, later annulled by the Lebanese Parliament in the mid-1980s [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL1434460820070715 Lebanon army advances into camp | International | Reuters ] ] but maintained in principle, the government has been reluctant to enter the camps. [ [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-lebanon22may22,1,2795344.story?page=3&coll=la-headlines-world Disabled activists helped prod Lebanon politicians into accord - Los Angeles Times ] ] [ [http://www.cepal.ca/index.php?id=126 Refugees: Welcome to Cepal.ca ] ] The current residents of the camps are currently denied access to their homeland or neighboring Arab nations.

The Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp is situated 16 km north of Tripoli near the coastal road and has been under scrutiny since February, when two buses were bombed in Ain Alak, a predominantly Christian village near Bikfaya. Fatah al-Islam militants based in the camp were blamed. About 30,000 displaced Palestinians live in the camp.BBC News (May 20, 2007). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6673639.stm "Lebanese troops battle militants"] . Retrieved May 20, 2007.]

Fatah al-Islam

The Islamist Fatah al-Islam group is alleged to have links with al-Qaeda and Lebanese government officials also believe it has ties to Syrian intelligence. Government officials have accused the latter of trying to undermine Lebanon's efforts in the establishment of an international tribunal to deal with the murderers of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Syrian officials have denied these charges.

Timeline

May 20: Start of the fighting in Tripoli and Nahr al-Bared

Fighting began early in the morning after a police raid on a house in Tripoli which was apparently being used by militants from Fatah al-Islam. The militant group subsequently began shooting at the Lebanese security forces who returned fire, triggering clashes in the vicinity of the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp near Tripoli. The men reportedly resisted arrest and the violence spread to neighbouring streets. [http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/05/21/lebanon.violence/index.html Lebanon Violence] , CNN, 2007-05-21.] Militants then attacked a Lebanese military post at the gate of the camp, slaughtering 27 soldiers during their sleep, seizing several vehicles and also killing an undetermined number of civilians that came to the rescue of the Lebanese army.

May 21-31: Nahr al-Bared under siege

Despite talks of a cease-fire, Fatah al-Islam militants continued battling the Lebanese army at the outskirts of the refugee camp while Lebanese tanks and artillery continued shelling their positions in the camp. By now the camp was totally surrounded by the Lebanese Army and more troops were coming in with tanks and APC's. Beirut's airport was the scene of several military aid shipments, mainly from the United States. The military supplies included ammunition for automatic rifles and heavy weapons, spare parts for military helicopters and night-vision equipment.

June 1-2: First Lebanese Army attack

Tanks massed outside the Nahr al-Bared camp and started a ground offensive. The fighting was concentrated in the southern and northern entrances of the camp. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6710667.stm BBC NEWS | Middle East | Fresh clashes engulf Lebanon camp ] ] At least 19 people were killed, including three army soldiers. [cite web| url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/8BEC166E-EBAE-4AB2-B798-B017B463B229.htm| title=Many dead in Lebanon camp battle] Among the dead was also a senior leader of Fatah al-Islam, Abu Riyadh; he had been killed by a Lebanese army sniper. [ [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0D354D80-7F5D-4679-A17E-ADB0ECDFBD3B.htm Al Jazeera English - News - Lebanon Camp Offensive Continues ] ] After 48 hours of fighting the battle was over and the Army was repelled.

June 3-4: Ain al-Hilweh violence

Fighting broke out between soldiers and Islamist militants at a second Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. The violence in the Ain al-Hilweh camp, near the southern city of Sidon, involved Jund al-Sham militants and the Lebanese army. Four people - two soldiers and two militants - were killed when suspected militants fired a grenade at an army checkpoint. Army troops responded to the attack with gunfire. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6717121.stm BBC NEWS | Middle East | Fighting at second Lebanon camp ] ] [ [http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&E1A12E49B238E70DC22572F00020D5F3 Naharnet News Desk ] ]

June 9-12: Second Lebanese Army attack

After mediators failed to convince the Islamists to surrender, the Lebanese Army attacked Nahr el-Bared once again. The troops advanced 50 meters before they had to stop after taking heavy casualties due to booby-trapped buildings and other Fatah al-Islam positions that the militants left behind. In all 29 people were killed within 24 hours: 11 soldiers, 16 militants and 2 civilians. Another 100 soldiers were wounded. Some of the fighting was close-quarters and almost hand to hand.

On June 11, two Lebanese Red Cross workers were killed outside Nahr al-Bared as they were evacuating civilians. On June 12, the Lebanese army continued their push and took two key positions from Fatah al-Islam within the camp, one of them on the coastal side of the camp.

June 16-19: Third Lebanese Army attack

The Lebanese Army continued the offensive and heavy bombardment hit the camp. On June 16 two Lebanese Gazelle helicopters fired four air-to-ground missiles at suspected militant positions inside the camp. [cnn.com: [http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/06/16/saturday/index.html?iref=newssearch Lebanese target suspected militants inside refugee camp] ] In 48 hours the Army managed to take another six Fatah al-Islam positions. At this time the only aim of the military was to destroy all of the militants positions on the outskirts of the camp, but the Army had no intention of going into the camp itself. On June 19, the Army finally managed to take all of the main positions of the Islamists. All of the buildings in the new (northern) part of the camp where the Fatah al-Islam fighters were dug in had been taken. Another seven soldiers were killed during this new round of fighting.

June 21: Outer parts of the camp fall

On June 21, the Lebanese defence minister reported that all of the Fatah al-Islam positions on the outlaying areas of the camp, from which the militants were attacking soldiers, have been taken or destroyed. The only positions left are those in the center of the camp from where the militants pose no threat and thus the Army has no intention of attacking the center of the camp. With this it was declared that the Lebanese military operation to destroy Fatah al-Islam was over. But heavy fighting still continued in the days ahead.

June 24-25: Renewed fighting in Tripoli & Nahr el-Bared

On June 24, for the first time since May 20, fighting erupted at an apartment building after a military raid on an Islamist militant cell that left 12 people dead. Among the killed were 7 non-Fatah militants, 1 soldier, 1 policeman and 3 civilians. Another 14 soldiers were wounded. [ [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/874443.html Twelve die in Lebanese army raid on militant hideout in apartment - Haaretz - Israel News ] ] On June 25, forces of the mainstream Fatah organization, headed by Mahmoud Abbas entered the Nahr el Bared camp to fight Islamic militants and killed three of them, a spokesman of Fatah said. [ [http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2007/06/fatah_mainstrea_1.php Fatah mainstream kills 3 Fatal al-Islam militants in north Lebanon | Ya Libnan | Lebanon News Live from Beirut ] ]

On June 28, the military found and engaged a group of Fatah al-Islam militants, in a cave in the mountains south of Tripoli, in fighting that killed 5 Islamists. [ [http://blacksmithsoflebanon.blogspot.com/2007/06/more-fighting-in-north.html Blacksmiths of Lebanon: More Fighting in the North ] ]

June 30: Jund al-Sham disbanded

On June 30, the Usbat Al-Ansar source said that 23 members of Jund Al Sham in the Ain Al Helweh camp on the outskirts of the port city of Sidon have joined up with Usbat at a meeting, while the rest had laid down their weapons. Usbat Al Ansar detained three other members of the group on suspicion of hurling a grenade at an army checkpoint, in an incident that caused no casualties. [ [http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2007/07/jund_al_sham_mi.php Jund Al Sham militants disband in south Lebanon camp | Ya Libnan | Lebanon News Live from Beirut ] ]

July 12-24: Fourth Lebanese Army attack

On July 12, after a lull in the fighting, the Lebanese army launched a new assault, towards the center of the camp where the last battle positions of the Islamists were. They resumed with the bombardment of the camp and troops engaged the militants in heavy street fighting. 33 soldiers were killed and 93 wounded during the fighting among the ruins of the camp where the Islamist fighters were well dug in and large parts of the camp were also booby-traped. [ [http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=64294 Islamists kill six Lebanese troops ] ]

On July 14, militants escalated the fighting by firing Katyusha rockets at towns surrounding the camp. One civilian was killed, and several were wounded.

On July 16, the Army managed to take a hill in the southern part of the camp which represented a highly strategic positions.

By July 20, only 300 square yards had been left in the hands of the Islamists in the southern part of the camp. The army's advance was slowed down until they were able to defuse dozens of booby-traps left in the ruins of the camp by the Islamists.

July 25-August 13: Fifth Lebanese Army attack

Soldiers moved into the fighting area under cover from artillery fire, tank fire and gunfire. A witness said this was the heaviest shelling of insurgent positions he had ever seen. A Lebanese source said the army was ready to make the final push and capture the last convert|250|yd|m|-1 still in hands of the insurgents. About 130 people are believed to be hold up in the area, about 70 fighters and 60 civilians. The militants answered with the firing of a handful of Katyusha rockets at Lebanese villages near the camp. [ [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L25461139.htm Reuters AlertNet - Lebanese army starts final push against militants ] ]

On July 28, a tiny enclave in the already recaptured part of the camp was captured and the militants inside, 8 people, were killed. The surprise attack was carried out by elite units. Cannons and armored vehicles were driven into the camp to demolish fortified houses, bunkers and tunnels. General Michel Sulaiman added, that victory was imminent and only days away. [ [http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2007/07/lebanese_comman.php Lebanese Commander to declare victory over terrorists soon | Ya Libnan | Lebanon News Live from Beirut ] ]

The military was hoping to celebrate victory on August 1, which is Army Day in Lebanon. But there is no victory as of that day and all official ceremonies have been cancelled to respect the fallen soldiers. [ [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/8799E7D3-3381-4916-8AF6-EDCFB3C896A4.htm Al Jazeera English - News - More Troops Killed At Nahr Al-Bared ] ]

On August 2, Abu Hureira, the deputy commander of Fatah al-Islam, was killed in Abu Samra during a shootout with Lebanese police when he tried to flee them whilst shooting at a checkpoint set up by the police. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/06/africa/ME-GEN-Lebanon-Militant-Killed.php Lebanese authorities announce they killed Fatah Islam deputy commander - International Herald Tribune ] ]

On August 8, it was reported the advance of the Lebanese troops was troubled by the smell of rotting corpses of slain militants who are not buried even weeks after their death. It was said the smell was so bad the air was unbreathable. [ [http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2007/08/rotten_corpses.php Rotten corpses hamper army operations at Lebanon camp | Ya Libnan | Lebanon News Live from Beirut ] ]

August 17-23: Sixth Lebanese Army attack

In the days leading up to the latest assault on the militants Gazelle attack helicopters bombed the Islamists positions and bunkers. [Tripoli Daily News: [http://tripoli-city.org/news/index.html Army tells militants that staying in camp is 'suicidal decision'] ] On August 17, the Army advances continued. A truce was made on August 24 to allow the 63 family members, 25 women and 38 children, of the Islamist fighters to leave the camp. This left a chance for a final assault on the militants by the army, and indications were that only 70 militants were left active in the camp, in reality almost 100 were still holed up. Air raids continued the next day.

August 30-September 3: Final Lebanese Army attack

Heavy fighting continued on August 30 after the evacuation of the civilians and almost a week of heavy bombing raids from attack helicopters. More street battles occurred as the troops advanced further into the winding streets of the camp. By this point most of the subterranean shelters had been taken by the army but still the militants held their positions in bunkers and among the ruins of the camp. All the time during the latest attack the militants were issuing calls for a cease-fire so that some 35 wounded militants could be evacuated. The army did not accept the cease-fire. On September 1, the army managed to take the homes of Shaker al-Abssi and his deputy Abu Hureira, who was killed in July during the fighting. However there was still no sign of Abssi himself.

eptember 2: Militant breakout and the fall of the camp

On September 2, militants attempted to escape from Nahr al-Bared. The fighting began when militants on the eastern and southern edge of the camp attacked army checkpoints. Militants also had help from outside the camp. The attack on the eastern edge of the camp started after a Mercedes car pulled up at an army checkpoint from outside around 04:00 AM and began firing at soldiers as fighters launched an attack from inside. At the same time militants attacked another checkpoint on the southern edge of the camp. Some of them were wearing army uniforms. Three militant groups attempted the breakout. One group tried to escape by sea and its members were killed or captured by the army. A second group tried to flee from the north of Nahr al-Bared and met the same fate. The leader of Fatah al-Islam, Shaker al-Abssi, was believed to be in the third group that followed the path of a river running between the southeastern part of the camp and the village of Ayun al-Samak in a remote mountainous region. Several members of that group were killed but most of them escaped. The whole militant leadership was thought to have escaped. It was later confirmed that al-Abssi actually fled the camp a day before the breakout. His fate remains unknown. The army said 35 militants managed to break the cordon and flee, but most of them were killed or captured in the coming days. The fighting lasted from dawn through early afternoon with troops engaging Fatah al-Islam fighters in buildings, fields and roads around the Nahr al-Bared camp. Up to 38 militants, five soldiers and one civilian were killed and 24 militants were captured. The camp finally fell by 11:00 AM.

Celebratory gunfire erupted in nearby villages as soon as the news of the army victory spread. Dozens of residents took to the streets of Mohammara, waving Lebanese flags and honking their horns as troop convoys poured into the area with soldiers flashing victory signs.

On September 3, Lebanese forces killed four militants and captured two in the area near the camp. The militants attacked soldiers looking for the fleeing fighters, wounding two of them and forcing the Lebanese soldiers to flee, but were finally killed by artillery fire which lasted for more than an hour. Six bodies of slain militants were found inside the camp. [ [http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2007/09/lebanese_army_h.php Lebanese Army hunts down fugitive terrorists | Ya Libnan | Lebanon News Live from Beirut ] ]

Sporadic fighting continued near the camp until September 7. Lebanon then declared victory. [ [http://www.janes.com/news/security/terrorism/jdw/jdw070907_2_n.shtml Lebanon declares victory against Fatah al-Islam] , Jane's News, retrieved 2007-09-11]

Bombings in and around Beirut

May 21: Fatah al-Islam claimed responsibility for two bombings that took place in Beirut.Deutsche Presse-Agentur via Monsters and Critics (May 22, 2007). [http://news.monstersacndcritics.com/middleeast/news/article_1307591.php/Fatah_al-Islam_claims_responsibility_for_Beirut_bombings__Extra_ "Fatah al-Islam claims responsibility for Beirut bombings (Extra)"] Retrieved May 22, 2007.] . Then a spokesman for the group denied any responsibility for them.cite news
title=Fatah al-Islam spox denies claim to Beirut bombs
url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL2222798220070522
date=2007
publisher=Reuters
accessdate=2007-01-22] The first bombing occurred shortly after midnight on May 21, killing a woman near the ABC shopping mall in Beirut's largely Christian eastern district of Ashrafieh. At least 10 people were hurt in the blast. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6678941.stm "Aid convoy under fire in Lebanon"] , "BBC News Online", May 22, 2007]

On the same day, at approximately 11 PM local time in Beirut, a second large explosion was heard in the mainly Muslim district of Verdun, located in a shopping area. [ [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3403183,00.html "Explosion rocks Beirut"] , "Ynet", May 21, 2007] At least seven people were wounded and the neighbouring buildings were severely damaged.cite news
title=Lebanese army battles Islamists in Palestinian camp
url=http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL2144985420070521?&src=052107_1521_TOPSTORY_battles_in_lebanon
date=2007
publisher=Reuters
accessdate=2007-01-21]

A third bombing, in a Christian neighborhood northeast of Beirut called Mansouriyeh, was foiled when authorities caught a Palestinian and an Egyptian carrying a bag full of explosives. May 23: A bomb went off near the main government building in Aley, a majority Druze town about 17 km northeast of Beirut. Reports said about five people were injured and a few buildings damaged by the blast. The security forces said the bomb was in a bag that had been left in front of a building close to a shopping district.

May 27: In Beirut, two policemen and two civilians were injured when a grenade was thrown in a mainly Muslim section of the city. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6696359.stm BBC NEWS | Middle East | Lebanon army 'hit by militants' ] ]

June 4: A bomb exploded in an empty passenger bus parked in a Christian neighborhood east of Beirut, wounding seven passers-by. The explosion occurred in the residential and industrial Bouchrieh suburb. [ [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/866936.html Report: Explosion rocks Beirut neighborhood, wounds seven - Haaretz - Israel News ] ]

June 7: A Lebanese man was killed and three other people wounded in a blast at a warehouse used to fill oxygen canisters in a Christian industrial area north of Beirut, police said. No group claimed responsibility for the explosion in the Zouk Mosbeh area, 20 km north of Beirut. A policeman said: "A medium-sized explosive charge had been put inside a car parked near the factory." He said that casualties were low because there were few people in the industrial zone at night. Lebanese soldiers and firefighters attended at least one large fire that was started by the blast. A building was badly damaged and several cars destroyed. [ [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0632A487-B8E7-4C35-8C47-844477B137DB.htm Al Jazeera English - News - Fresh Assault On Lebanon Camp ] ]

June 13: A car bomb hit Beirut's seafront Corniche al-Manara, killing Walid Eido, a member of parliament with the Current for the Future bloc known for his opposition to the Syrian influence on Lebanon. His eldest son, Khaled, and two bodyguards were also killed, along with up to six other civilians. [ [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/6094084E-770E-4AE9-B4A1-0C0348A4F411.htm Al Jazeera English - News - Beirut Bomb Kills Politician ] ]

The blast may have been tied to the fighting in the north, or it may have been tied to the series of bombings and assassinations of anti-Syrian figures going back to Rafiq Hariri's killing.

Attacks on United Nations peacekeepers

On June 24, a UNIFIL armored personnel carrier was hit by a car bomb on the border with Israel, killing six Spanish soldiers and wounding another two Spanish soldiers. Both the Lebanese government and Hezbollah condemned the attack. Intelligence gathered from captured militants indicated that the militants were planning to attack United Nations soldiers on the Israeli-Lebanese border. Also, Fatah al-Islam itself said that if the fighting continued it would conduct attacks on targets outside of northern Lebanon. Al-Qaeda also stated that it would target the U.N. troops on the border. [ [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/26A8CA13-AAE2-40DF-A8AD-810529CA88BB.htm Al Jazeera English - News - Lebanon Blast Kills Unifil Troops ] ]

On July 16, a roadside blast damaged a UNIFIL vehicle near the southern city of Tyre. The UNIFIL vehicle damaged near Tyre was hit by an explosion near the Qasimiya bridge over the Litani river. "We can confirm an explosion in the area of Qasmiyeh bridge which slightly damaged a Unifil vehicle of the Tanzanian battalion," spokeswoman Yasmeena Bouziane said. [ [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/BB4F7925-1656-4BC7-8B1E-A1D3F551C3E9.htm Al Jazeera English - News - Army Advances Into Nahr Al-Bared ] ]

Casualties

At least 446 people, including 168 soldiers and 226 militants, had been killed in the fighting during the 105-day siege of the camp. Between 400 and 500 soldiers had been wounded and more than 215 militants had been captured. The military death toll is very significant for a small country like Lebanon, which has a total population of only four million people. On a per capita basis the death toll for Lebanon in three and a half months is more than three times the death toll of US soldiers in Iraq in the past four and a half years.

Twelve Lebanese civilians were killed in terrorist bombings in and around Beirut, two soldiers and five militants were killed in the Ain al-Hilweh camp, seven non-Fatah Islamic militants were killed during a raid in Tripoli, and six U.N. soldiers were killed, while two were wounded in the bombing attack on the Israeli-Lebanon border.

54 civilians were killed in the fighting at the camp and in Tripoli, 47 of them Palestinians.

Most of the some 31,000 Palestinians that lived at the camp fled the fighting to other camps in the country.

Reactions

*flagicon|Lebanon Fouad Siniora, Lebanon's prime minister, accused Fatah al-Islam of trying to destabilize the country.Al Jazeera English (May 23, 2007). [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A68B0312-BEA5-458B-9B6C-261421D3F512.htm "Refugees flee Lebanon camp"] . Retrieved May 23, 2007.] Lebanese Interior Minister Hasan al-Sabaa described Fatah al-Islam as "part of the Syrian intelligence-security apparatus." Lebanon's national police commander, Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, contradicted the Lebanese army and dismissed any purported al-Qaeda connection, saying Fatah al-Islam was controlled by Damascus. Lebanese Christian leader Samir Geagea said that Fatah al-Islam is an offshoot of Syrian intelligence and its terrorist activities must end. Deutsche Presse-Agentur via Monsters and Critics. [http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/news/article_1306923.php/Fighting_between_militants_Lebanese_army_leaves_42_dead__3rd_Roundup Fighting between militants, Lebanese army leaves 42 dead] ] Nayla Mouawad, Lebanese social affairs minister, said the militants have "Syrian allegiance and only take orders from Syria." [http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/05/22/lebanon.violence/index.html "Refugees leave Lebanon camp; U.N. workers freed"] , "CNN", May 23, 2007] Lebanese Minister of Economy and Trade, Sami Haddad, told the BBC his government suspected Syria of masterminding the violence. Haddad also asked for money and resources to help Lebanese forces battling the militants. "I take this opportunity to ask our friends all over the world — Arab governments and friendly Western governments — to help us both logistically and with military equipment," he declared. The Lebanese Cabinet declared its "full support" for military efforts to end the fighting, said Mohamed Chatah, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. "Lebanese security forces are targeting militants and are not randomly shooting into the refugee camp," Chatah said. The living conditions at the camp are partly to blame for the rise of Fatah al-Islam, according to Khalil Makkawi, a former Lebanese ambassador to the United Nations. Lebanese President Emile Lahoud called on all Lebanese to unite around the army. [http://www.manartv.com.lb/NewsSite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=17573&language=en "Lahoud calls on all Lebanese to unite around army"] , "Al-Manar", May 21, 2007] Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, a supporter of Lebanon's governing coalition, said there were "no proposals" for a military solution. "But we want the murderers handed over to Lebanese justice," he said. .
* leader he ruled out surrender. "O advocates of the US plan, we tell you that Sunnis will be a spearhead in fighting the Jews, Americans and their allies," he said.
*flagicon|Syria Minutes after the violence erupted, Syria temporarily closed two border crossings with northern Lebanon because of security concerns. Syrian leaders deny fomenting violence in Lebanon. Syria's ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, has denied his country had any links to the group, and said some of them had been in jail in Syria for their support of al-Qaeda.
*flagicon|Palestine The Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian factions' union delegation to the Grand Serail stressed Palestinians should shoulder responsibility of the improvised action by Fatah al-Islam. The delegation comprised representatives from Hamas, The Democratic Front, Sa'iqa, Nidal Front, Islamic Jihad, Fatah al-Intifada, Palestinian Liberation Front and Abbas Zaki, the representative of the executive committee of the PLO.
* and Hezbollah. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6694207.stm BBC NEWS | Middle East | Hezbollah head warns against raid ] ] "Are you willing to fight the wars of others inside Lebanon?" he asked his audience.
*flagicon|United States U.S. President George W. Bush said the Islamists needed to be stopped. "Extremists that are trying to topple that young democracy need to be reined in," he said. The U.S. State Department dismissed any links between this week's violence and efforts to establish the international tribunal to try suspects for the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
* released a statement saying: "Sons of Islam, o sons of the nation of Allah and Jihad, our brothers in the Nahr el-Bared camp in Lebanon are being subjected to the flagrant aggression of the army working for treason and apostasy, the Lebanese Army." They called on "every Muslim" to support Fatah al-Islam because it is seeking "a confrontation" with Israel. [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3405037,00.html Al-Qaeda: Help Fatah al-Islam attack Israel] ]
** An Al-Qaeda linked group based in Lebanon, accused the Lebanese government of embarking on a "crusade" after depriving its Palestinian inhabitants of basic rights.
**Tawheed and Jihad in Syria, said Christians in Lebanon were part of a 'united crusader-Jewish front' directed against Muslims, and accused the "Lebanese army, government, intelligence branches and police" of being "the guard dogs of France and America." Calling upon its supporters to "support the jihad," the group also said: "We warn that if the Lebanese government does not lift its blockade, its sons living on Syrian territory will be considered moving targets," adding that it would carry out operations against Lebanese government officials citizens in Syria. [cite web| url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3411428,00.html| title='Lebanon guard dog of America']

References

ee also

*Siege of Beirut
*War of the camps
*Battle of Jenin
*February 13, 2007 Bikfaya bombings
*2006–2007 Lebanese political protests
*2006 Lebanon War
*Bomber helicopter
*List of wars 2003-current

External links

* [http://yalibnan.com/tag/Fatah%20al-Islam Fatah al-Islam Videos]
* [http://www.unrwa-lebanon.org/lebanon_emergency.html UNRWA Lebanon: Nahr El Bared Emergency]
* [http://www.fatahalislam.org/ Fatah al-Islam: News Reports]
* [http://www.fatahislam.com Fatah al-Islam]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6674853.stm In pictures: Lebanon battles on 20 May (BBC)]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6684619.stm In pictures: Lebanon refugees flee 23 May (BBC)]
* [http://www.pulitzercenter.org/showproject.cfm?id=52 Nahr al-Bared: Refuge in Ruin, a reporting project from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting]
* [http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/15/news/lebanon.php A new face of Al Qaeda emerges in Lebanon]
* [http://www.lebanon-support.org (www.lebanon-support.org) Day to day information on Humanitarian activities for the refugees of Nahr El Bared]
* [http://www.mideastmonitor.org/issues/0801/0801_1.htm Salafi-jihadism in Lebanon ]