LEBANON: Lebanese army is evacuating families of Islamist militants fighting troops at Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp

Record ID: 345682

  • Title: LEBANON: Lebanese army is evacuating families of Islamist militants fighting troops at Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp
  • Date: 25th August 2007
  • Summary: (BN11) NAHR AL-BARED CAMP, LEBANON (AUGUST 24, 2007) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THE CAMP ENTRANCE VARIOUS OF MEDIA OUTSIDE CAMP ENTRANCE FAMILIES OF ISLAMIST MILITANTS BEING EVACUATED IN LEBANESE ARMY VEHICLES VARIOUS OF RED CROSS VEHICLES AND WORKERS AT ENTRANCE TO CAMP LEBANESE ARMY VEHICLES EVACUATING FAMILIES OF MILITANTS RED CROSS VEHICLES FOLLOWING LEBANESE ARMY SOLDIERS STANDING ON SIDE OF ROAD SOLDIERS AND MEDIA WAITING ON SIDE OF ROAD FOR CONVOY OF EVACUEES TO PASS CONVOY OF LEBANESE ARMY TANKS CONVOY OF VEHICLES WITH EVACUEES AND RED CROSS AMBULANCES
  • Embargoed: 9th September 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: Social Services / Welfare
  • Reuters ID: LVAB7LH0MV2DRL7ZJ8KOIKITWEPJ
  • Story Text: The Lebanese army has evacuated families of Islamist militants who have been fighting troops at a Palestinian refugee camp, a military source said on Friday (August 24).
    The militants and their families have been holed up at the Nahr al-Bared camp since the conflict began on May 20. The fighting has killed nearly 300 people, the worst internal violence since Lebanon's civil war ended 17 years ago.
    The source said 63 people were evacuated.
    Witnesses said they saw a military bus filled with women veiled completely in black leaving the camp, flanked by a convoy of army vehicles and with ambulances following behind.
    Security sources said the civilians were taken to a nearby military base for questioning. Two children were taken to hospital.
    The camp has been almost totally destroyed by intense tank, artillery and helicopter fire from the army, which is trying to force the al Qaeda-inspired Fatah al-Islam group to surrender.
    Lebanese security sources said there were no more than 30 active fighters left in the camp, suggesting the evacuation could be a precursor to a surrender by the group.
    The militants had asked Palestinian mediators earlier this week to secure a truce to allow their families to leave.
    Most of the camp's 40,000 residents fled to a nearby Palestinian refugee camp in the first days of fighting.
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