TRIPOLI (PIC)– The Lebanese army started Friday morning shelling positions inside Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in their fight against Fatah al-Islam group.
Lebanese army sources said that its troops came under fire from the Fatah al-Islam group inside the camp and that the army has responded proportionately to avoid civilian casualties. However this has done little to allay fears for the safety of the largely civilian population of the refugee camp who have been trapped into this conflict. There are already reports of some civilian casualties.
PIC correspondent said that all indications are that today’s operation is to pave the way for a wide scale offensive with the aim of storming the camp and rooting out this group.
Khaled Mishaal Hamas’s Political Bureau office said yesterday that his movement rejects the punishment of Palestinian refugees in Nahr al-Bared.
The Palestinian Scholars League (PSL) which was involved in mediation efforts to try and end this crisis peacefully said that the shelling has resulted in civilian casualties inside the refugee camp and warned that a full scale invasion of the camp could result in horrific massacres.
The PSL which reported a tragic humanitarian situation inside the camp said that the shelling is affecting the whole camp and not only the Fatah al-Islam positions as the Lebanese army has suggested.
