The Lebanese army launched a massive barrage of bombs in what appeared to be the start of a final showdown with the Fatah al-Islam terrorists on Thursday, in the northern Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp. "Today's bombardment is a first step in the final battle against the terrorist group whose fighters have refused to surrender to the army," an army officer at the scene said. But the military command denied reports that the shelling was part of a final assault on Fatah al-Islam terrorists.| Too bad. |
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In a statement denying reports that it had announced a final assault, the army said that "the ongoing military operatios are still in the context of tightening the noose on the gunmen to force them to surrender."
Clouds of thick black smoke billowed over Nahr al-Bared on Thursday as artillery shells slammed Fatah al-Islam positions in the old sector of the camp at a rate of 15 rounds per minute, Future television reported. The Voice of Lebanon radio station said Thursday that some 3,000 Lebanese army troops were believed to have taken part in the imminent crackdown on Fatah al-Islam terrorists holed up in the "old camp" on the southern tip of Nahr al-Bared. The daily An Nahar on Thursday, however, said the zero hour for the military showdown was not expected to be announced before the weekend. It said the army may not storm the camp outright but seize some strategic positions gradually and over time.
Before the evacuation started, some 400 people were estimated to be living in the camp's old sector compared to the shantytown's original population of about 30,000 before the confrontation broke out May 20. An Nahar said 11 evacuees were arrested after being debriefed by the army at a nearby garrison.
The paper said that the last batch that was intended to flee the camp Wednesday evening comprised of a number of the wives of Fatah al-Islam fighters and well as other family members. According to information obtained by An Nahar, it said the militants at the last minute refused to allow the batch to leave the camp.
On Wednesday, the eve of the anniversary of the start of last year's Israel-Hizbullah war, Prime Minister Fouad Saniora called for the army to "put a final end" to the Fatah al-Islam "terrorists," in an apparent green light to storm the camp. A Palestinian official said the evacuation from the seafront camp near northern Lebanon's port city of Tripoli would "allow the Lebanese army to operate more freely, and without putting civilians at risk."