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Army advances on militants in Nahr al-Bared
BEIRUT: The army stepped up its offensive on the northern refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared on Monday, moving in closer to the base of the Fatah al-Islam militants still holed up inside the camp. In addition, mainstream Fatah commander Sultan Abu al-Aynan voiced his optimism for a quick end to the battle. Army troops are "moving forward. We are controlling more buildings by the day, after clearing them of unexploded ordnance and booby-traps," an army official said on Monday."The gunmen now only control about 15,000 square meters," compared to 22,500 square meters last Friday and 45,000 square meters a week before then, he added. Squeezing them into a smaller and smaller pocket In a statement issued for the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the Lebanese Army, commander General Michel Suleiman praised his troops for their efforts. "I want you to rest assured that all the sacrifices made by you and your fellow martyrs in the North have helped to draw a line in blood between a unified country and one in chaos and loss, between a Lebanon unique in the world and a Lebanon as a continuous ground for battle," he said. "On your behalf, I salute all those innocent martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for the Lebanese people in the battle for dignity and national sovereignty," he added. The army has spent the last two weeks advancing slowly through the camp, clearing land mines and booby-traps before humanitarian organizations enter to assess needs for the post-conflict reconstruction. A soldier was killed late Sunday night in the battle, bringing the total number of army deaths to 123. Monday saw an increase in artillery fire exchanged between the militants and the army, as the latter pushed on with its house-to-house battle. According to witnesses in the area, the army renewed its call through loudspeakers for the militants to surrender or to allow their families to leave the camp. The gunmen so far have refused to surrender, instead vowing to fight to the death. Fatah al-Islam spokesman Abu Salim Taha has warned the militants would send suicide bombers against the army if the offensive continues. In other developments, Aynayn said the Lebanese Army's delay in resolving the confrontation with the Fatah al-Islam militants was a result of the army's concern for the civilian population. He added that he was confident the army would end the battle in a short time. "The members of the Abssi gang left in the Nahr al-Bared camp have reached a minimum," he said, referring to Fatah al-Islam leader Shaker al-Abssi. Speaking at a news conference at his headquarters south of Tyre on Monday, Aynayn estimated Fatah al-Islam's casualties at 75. Another reason for the delay, he added, was the Lebanese Army's lack of information regarding the camp's geography and structure. "The reason why the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organization] did not assist the army in terminating the Abssi gang is due to various impediments set forth by some Palestinian forces in the country," he said. Aynayn stressed that the PLO would no longer wait for consensus regarding the handling of similar situations in any other camp. Posted by: 2007-07-31 |
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