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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Lebanon's defense minister gives Fatah Islam ultimatum
2007-05-24
Lebanon's defense minister issued an ultimatum Wednesday to Islamic militants barricaded in this Palestinian refugee camp to surrender or face a military onslaught, as the army reinforced its positions, raising fears of what could be a bloody showdown.
Mmmmmmmm. I sure hope they have napalm
Fighters from the al-Qaida-inspired Fatah Islam militant group vowed not to give up and to fight any Lebanese assault.

Storming the Nahr el-Bared camp - a densely built-up town of narrow streets on the Mediterranean coast - could mean rough urban fighting for Lebanese troops and further death and destruction for the the thousands of terrorists and terrorist-sympathizers, as well as a few civilians who remain inside. It could also have grave repercussions elsewhere across troubled Lebanon, sparking unrest among the country's estimated 400,000 Palestinians. Already some of the other refugee camps in Lebanon, which are rife with armed groups, are seething with anger at the fighting.
The AP reads Rantburg or LGF!
Did the AP reporter note any face making or eye-rolling?
But the military appeared determined to uproot Fatah Islam after three days of heavy bombardment of the camp, sparked by an attack by the terrorists militants on Lebanese troops on Sunday following a raid on its fighters in the nearby northern city of Tripoli. "Preparations are seriously underway to end the matter," Defense Minister Elias Murr said said in an interview with the Al-Arabiya television. "The army will not negotiate with a group of terrorists and criminals. Their fate is arrest, and if they resist the army, death."
I am liking this guy!
Around half of Nahr el-Bared's 31,000 residents have fled the camp since a halt in the fighting Tuesday night, with families streaming out carrying plastic bags full of clothes. They traveled on foot and in cars, clutching babies, past burned out shops and wrecked cars on streets strewn with broken glass, garbage and even dead rats. But thousands remained behind, either too ill to travel or unwilling to abandon their homes, and are now in danger of being caught in the crossfire.
Has RAB deployed there?
Occasional gunshots broke the quiet Tuesday night, witnesses said, but there was no fighting throughout the day Wednesday. In the afternoon, the army brought seven more armored carriers to its positions ringing the camp. But the troops did not move beyond the front line. Army officials in Beirut refused to comment on the reinforcements.

The first indications of the death toll from the three-days of bombardment began to emerge. UN relief officials said the bodies of at least 20 terrorists civilians were retrieved from inside the camp during the halt in fighting. Murr said 30 Lebanese soldiers have been killed in the battle and put the death toll among terrrorits militants at as many as 60, including fighters from Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Saudi Arabia.
Leb soldiers need to get better, a 2:3 kill ratio simply is not acceptable.
But a top Fatah Islam leader said only 10 of his men have been killed.
Lying asswipe
Fatah Islam said it was ready for a fight.
Yarrr!
A terrorist militant who said he was a deputy leader of the group said Fatah Islam was willing into enter a permanent cease-fire with the military if they are allowed to remain in the camp. But "if they enter, we are ready. They can try but they won't be able to. They will face a massacre," he told the Associated Press in a building in the camp, giving his pseudonym as Abu Hureira and speaking with a Lebanese Arabic accent.

Just how many Fatah Islam are here is not clear, but Abu Hureira said they number more than 500. Lebanese military officials said Wednesday they found the body of a terrorist militant named Abu Madyan, who they said was the group's second-in-command and had been killed in fighting Monday.
Excellent! Waiter! White raisins for all the deaders!
Posted by:Ahnuld

#15  It's difficult sometimes to shoulder the Great Satan's Burden™

Yeah, I know what you mean, Barbara. All of these jerkoff azzholes just beggin' for a major smackdown and, suddenly, you've got to halt and try to prioritize everything.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-05-24 21:15  

#14  You are so right, #13 John.

It's difficult sometimes to shoulder the Great Satan's Burden™ - but somebody's gotta do it. :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2007-05-24 18:07  

#13  It's difficult being the Great Satan. Most people don't really appreciate the work we do.
Posted by: JohnQC   2007-05-24 17:09  

#12  Fox is showing nite-vision live video of the fighting - tanks, tracers, etc. Also word is that Jordan will be delivering buttloads of ammo to replenish the Leb Army - ammo from....the Great Satan, among others. Go Lebs!
Posted by: Frank G   2007-05-24 17:02  

#11  Bout. Bloody. Time.
Posted by: mcsegeek1   2007-05-24 15:03  

#10  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Lebanon#Lebanese_Ground_Forces

i doubt the syrians are worried about M48 tanks, and I dont know much about artillery.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2007-05-24 14:34  

#9  ISTR seeing that they originally did use artillery for strikes on the camp. I presume its short range artillery.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2007-05-24 13:23  

#8  I'm pretty sure Lebanon doesn't have an air force of any kind (except maybe a few trainers). I'm also betting Lebanon doesn't have hardly any armor or heavy artillery.

All of that would be a threat to Syria and Hezbollah, and the Syrians just won't allow it to happen.
Posted by: Steve White   2007-05-24 12:28  

#7  hezb is giving public support to the Leb army.

I for one, dont think for a minute they really want the Leb army to succeed.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2007-05-24 12:00  

#6  Where does Hezbollah fall in this? Fatah supports Osama Bin Laden.
Posted by: JohnQC   2007-05-24 11:24  

#5  "...could mean rough urban fighting for Lebanese troops ..."

Umm, why?

Don't the Lebs have arty? How about an airforce?
Just give the civvies 24 hours to leave and then flatten the place. Borrow some D9s from the IAF and you're good to go.
Posted by: AlanC   2007-05-24 09:14  

#4  Can I have my popcorn with napalm, please?
Posted by: Excalibur   2007-05-24 08:51  

#3  vowed not to give up and to fight any Lebanese assault.

To the last man , we sincerely hope.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2007-05-24 06:21  

#2  Lebanon's defense minister gives Fatah Islam ultimatum

Fuck off or and die!
Posted by: Zenster   2007-05-24 05:01  

#1  I like the way the Leb Army is standing pat and determined to eliminate the pestilence in it's midst. Could a day visit by Gen. Petraeous be arranged so he could observe some tactics which actually have an effect on Muslims?
Posted by: Woozle Elmeter2970   2007-05-24 00:26  

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