Lebanese troops battle militants in refugee camp

        Fighting between Fatah al-Islam militants and Lebanese troops on May 20 and 21 resulted in the worst internal violence in Lebanon since the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990).  Street fighting broke out in Tripoli on Sunday May 20, when Lebanese troops raided a Fatah al-Islam safe house where suspected bank robbers were hiding.  The street fights led al-Islam militants to take over army posts near the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp near Tripoli.  an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 Palestinian refugees live in the camp.  While Lebanese troops have not entered the camp, in accordance with a forty year old agreement with the PLO, they have bombarded the camp with artillery.

        There is great concern over the safety and welfare of the refugees within the camp.  Without food, electricity or medical supplies and with the constant bombardment, the conditions within the camp pose a great threat to civilian life.  Since the Lebanese troops are focusing the attack on the outer perimeter of the camp, the refugees have retreated into the center of the camp.  As a result, the refugees are imprisoned within the camp.  A short lived truce allowed medical organizations to evacuate 16 wounded civilians on Monday, however an unestimated number of injured civilians remain in the camp, with no access to medical care or supplies.  In addition, an estimated 25 civilians have died as a result of the fighting.

        Fatah al-Islam is a Palestinian group and is suspected to be either a Lebanses branch of al-Qaeda or connected with Syrian intelligence.  The Palestinian government has been working with the Lebanese to broker a cease-fire.  However, some within the Lebanese government are determined to destroy the group and the fighters based in Palestinian refugee camps, which they hold responsible to terrorist attacks throughout Lebanon. 

        Regardless as to what affiliation or what the group’s objectives are, this current conflict may cause the fragile Lebanese government to collapse. The government faces international and domestic criticism for their use of force within the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp. If the conflict continues, Fatah al-Islam threatens to extend fighting beyond the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp. If the fighting escalates, Lebanon

may be drawn into civil war, more devastating than the first.

For more information please see:

Al-Jazeera: “Lebanese Troops shell Palestinian refugee camp” 21 May 2007

Al-Jazeera:  “Clashes between Lebanese troops, rebels leave 38 dead” 21 May 2007.

AP: “Lebanese Army Pounds Palestinian Camp” 21 May 2007.

BBC: “Fighting rages in Lebanese Camp” 21 May 2007.

BBC: “Fresh Clases in Northern Lebanon” 21 May 2007.

Christian Science Monitor: “New Fight Rips at a Fragile Lebanon” 21 May 2007.

The Daily Star: “Army Steps up Shelling of Militants at Nahr al-Bared” 22 May 2007.

The Daily Star: “Palestinian factions offer to help fight Fatah al-Islam” 21 May 2007.

The Daily Star: “22 Troops, 19 Fatah al-Islam Fighters dead” 21 May 2007.

Middle East Times: “Death toll mounts as Lebanon troops pound Islamist” 21 May 2007.

Author: Impunity Watch Archive