The 2007 North Lebanon conflict began when fighting broke out between Fatah al-Islam, an Islamist militant organization, and the Lebanese Armed Forces on May 20, 2007 in Nahr al-Bared, a Palestinian refugee camp near Tripoli, Lebanon. It has been the most severe internal fighting since Lebanon's 1975–90 civil war. The conflict evolved mostly around the Siege of Nahr el-Bared. Image File history File links Current_event_marker. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 518 pixelsFull resolution (1000 × 647 pixel, file size: 1. ... May 20 is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Nahr al-Bared, Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. ... This page refers to Tripoli, the city in Lebanon. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Lebanon. ... The military of the Republic of Lebanon is officially known as the (LAF) (Arabic: القوات المسلحة اللبنانية ) and consists of three branches: The Lebanese Army The Lebanese Navy The Lebanese Air Force // The Lebanese Armed Forces primary missions include; defending Lebanon and its citizens against all aggression, confronting threats against the countrys... Image File history File links Flag_of_jihad. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... General Michel Sulaiman (born 21st January 1948) is the current commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces. ... Shaker al-Abssi (Arabic: ), a veteran Palestinian guerrilla, is Fatah al-Islams leader. ... North Governorate North Governorate (Arabic: الشمال; transliterated: ash-Shamal) is one of the governorates of Lebanon. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... Islamism is a political ideology derived from the conservative religious views of Muslim fundamentalism. ... Many organizations that are accused of being a terrorist organization deny using terrorism as a military tactic to achieve their goals, and there is no international consensus on the bureaucratic definition of terrorism. ... The military of the Republic of Lebanon is officially known as the (LAF) (Arabic: القوات المسلحة اللبنانية ) and consists of three branches: The Lebanese Army The Lebanese Navy The Lebanese Air Force // The Lebanese Armed Forces primary missions include; defending Lebanon and its citizens against all aggression, confronting threats against the countrys... May 20 is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Nahr al-Bared, Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. ... The term Palestinian has other usages, for which see definitions of Palestinian. ... List of Palestinian refugee camps with current population and year they were established: Gaza, 8 camps, 478,854 refugees 1948, Beach camp (Shati), 76,109 1949, Bureij, 30,059 1948, Deir el-Balah, 20,188 1948, Jabalia (Jabalyia, Abalyia), 103,646 1949, Khan Yunis, 60,662 1949, Maghazi, 22,536... This page refers to Tripoli, the city in Lebanon. ... Combatants Lebanese Front Syria LNM PLO Commanders Bachir Gemayel Dany Chamoun Kamal Jumblatt Yasser Arafat The multi-sided Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) had its origin in the conflicts and political compromises after the end of Lebanons administration by the Ottoman Empire and was exacerbated by the nations...

Background

Nahr al-Bared refugee camp

Main article: Nahr al-Bared

Lebanon is home to more than 350,000 Palestinian refugees, including descendants of those who fled from Israel during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. As in many other Arab countries, Lebanese citizenship is unavailable to them, and many are banned from all but menial jobs in Lebanon, forcing them to mostly live off of United Nations aid. In 1962, Palestinians were categorized as foreigners in Lebanon, regardless of how long they had lived there. Non-Lebanese, which included the refugees, were restricted from working in over 70 skilled professions until 2005, when new legislation officially opened up 50 such jobs to them. Lebanon has not attempted to relieve their situation.^{[citation needed]} The civil war also left Lebanon's central government deeply suspicious of Palestinian refugees, but barred from entering their camps under a 1969 Arab accord. [3][4] While some refugees were naturalized and integrated into Lebanese society,^{[citation needed]} most were denied entrance into Lebanese or surrounding Arab societies,^{[citation needed]} and were settled into camps.^[1] Nahr al-Bared, Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. ... In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a Palestinian refugee is a refugee from Palestine created by the Palestinian Exodus, which Palestinians call the Nakba (نكبة, meaning disaster). History Most of the refugees had already fled by the time the neighboring Arab states intervened on the side of Palestinians... Combatants  Israel Egypt, Syria, Transjordan,  Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Holy War Army, Arab Liberation Army Commanders Yaakov Dori, Yigael Yadin Glubb Pasha, Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni, Hasan Salama, Fawzi Al-Qawuqji Strength  Israel: 29,677 initially rising to 115,000 by March 1949 Egypt: 10,000 initially rising... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... Combatants Lebanese Front Syria LNM PLO Commanders Bachir Gemayel Dany Chamoun Kamal Jumblatt Yasser Arafat The multi-sided Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) had its origin in the conflicts and political compromises after the end of Lebanons administration by the Ottoman Empire and was exacerbated by the nations...

The residents of today's camps are descendants of these early Palestinian refugees. They are denied access to Israel or the Arab nations which refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the UN mandated creation of Israel. Languages Arabic other minority languages Religions Predomiantly Sunni Islam, as well as Shia Islam, Greek Orthodoxy, Greek Catholicism, Maronite, Alawite Islam, Druze, Ibadi Islam, and Judaism An Arab (Arabic: ) is any member of the Semitic group of people whose cultural, linguistic, and in certain cases, ancestral origins trace back to...

The Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp is situated 16 km north of Tripoli near the coastal road and has been under scrutiny since February, when two buses were bombed in Ain Alak, a predominantly Christian village near Bikfaya. Fatah al-Islam militants based in the camp were blamed. About 30,000 displaced Palestinians live in the camp, which the military is banned from entering under a 1969 Arab accord.^[2] Nahr al-Bared, Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. ... In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a Palestinian refugee is a refugee from Palestine created by the Palestinian Exodus, which Palestinians call the Nakba (نكبة, meaning disaster). History Most of the refugees had already fled by the time the neighboring Arab states intervened on the side of Palestinians... This page refers to Tripoli, the city in Lebanon. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Bikfaya (also spelled Bickfaya, Beckfayya, or Bekfaya) is a picturesque town in the Matn District region of Mount Lebanon. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ...

Fatah al-Islam

Main article: Fatah al-Islam

The Islamist Fatah al-Islam group is alleged to have links with al-Qaeda. Lebanese government officials also believe it has ties to Syrian intelligence which they accused of trying to undermine the country's efforts in establishing an international tribunal to deal with the murderers of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. ^[2] Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... Islamism is a political ideology derived from the conservative religious views of Muslim fundamentalism. ... Al-Qaeda (Arabic: القاعدة, the foundation or the base) is the name given to a worldwide network of militant Islamist organizations under the leadership of Osama bin Laden. ... Rafik Baha ad-Din Hariri — (November 1, 1944 – February 14, 2005), (Arabic: ) a self-made billionaire and business tycoon, was the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2000 until his resignation on 20 October 2004. ...

Fighting

May 20: Start of the fighting in Tripoli and Nahr al-Bared

Fighting began early on Sunday after a police raid on a house in Tripoli which was apparently being used by militants from Fatah al-Islam. The militant group subsequently began shooting at the Lebanese security forces who returned fire, triggering clashes in the vicinity of the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp near Tripoli. The men reportedly resisted arrest and the violence spread to neighbouring streets. The police and the army had conducted the raid after allegations that Fatah al-Islam members tried to rob a bank on Sunday and "take control of several security strongholds in the North" according to Ahmad Fatfat, Lebanese Minister of Youth and Sports in Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's cabinet.^[3] Militants then attacked a Lebanese military post at the gate of the camp, seizing several vehicles. The Lebanese military sent reinforcements, including tanks, which returned fire at Fatah al-Islam positions. At least 27 Lebanese soldiers were killed in the fighting, along with an undetermined number of civilians and militants. Nahr al-Bared, Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. ... Refugee camp for Rwandans located in what is now the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo following the Rwandan Genocide A refugee camp is a temporary camp built up by governments or NGOs (such as the ICRC) to receive refugees. ... “Banker” redirects here. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... This page lists prime ministers of Lebanon. ... Fouad Siniora (alternative spellings: Fouad Sanyoura, Fuad Siniora, Fouad Saniora, Fouad Seniora) (Arabic: ‎, Fuād As-Sanyūrah) is the Prime Minister of Lebanon, a position he assumed on 19 July 2005, succeeding Najib Mikati. ...

May 21: Nahr al-Bared under siege

Fighting renewed after a short-lived truce earlier in the day was declared in order to transport the dead and injured out of the camp in ambulances. According to the Lebanese news channel NewTV, allegations arose that Fatah al-Islam militiamen shot at ambulances entering and exiting the camp. The Lebanese Army began shelling Nahr al-Bared at what it believed were Fatah al-Islam positions; many civilians were killed.^[4][2] == T.R.U.C.E == Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Childrens Entertainment. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... An ambulance in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico A Helicopter used as an Ambulance. ... The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) consists of three branches: Lebanese Army Lebanese Air Force Lebanese Navy // General overview The Lebanese Armed Forces primary missions include maintaining security and stability in the country, guarding the countrys borders, port security, relief operations, rescue operations, fire fighting, and fighting drug smuggling. ... Nahr al-Bared, Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. ...

U.N. Relief and Works Agency officials said that U.N. staffers were among the wounded. Aid agencies were unable to provide proper medical care to the injured and count all the casualties. They attempted to get a cease-fire in place in order to deliver food and medical supplies to the refugee camp.^{[citation needed]} The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is a controversial relief and human development agency, providing education, healthcare, social services and emergency aid to over four million Palestinian refugees living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. ... This article is about the United Nations, for other uses of UN see UN (disambiguation) Official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic Secretary-General Kofi Annan (since 1997) Established October 24, 1945 Member states 191 Headquarters New York City, NY, USA Official site http://www. ... An aid agency is an organisation dedicated to distributing aid. ... Casualties of war. ... An armistice is the effective end of a war, when the warring parties agree to stop fighting. ... Refugee camp for Rwandans located in what is now the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo following the Rwandan Genocide A refugee camp is a temporary camp built up by governments or NGOs (such as the ICRC) to receive refugees. ...

May 22: The fighting continues at Nahr al-Bared, ceasefire

Despite talks of a cease-fire, Fatah al-Islam militants continued battling the Lebanese army at the outskirts of the refugee camp for a third day. Fighting resumed when Lebanese tanks and artillery began shelling the members of the radical Fatah al-Islam group taking refuge in the camp. By mid-morning the battle intensified with heavy exchanges of small arms and machine-gun fire.^[5] Conditions inside the overcrowded Nahr al-Bared camp became increasingly unbearable as the army continued pounding militant positions there. Doctors in the camp have pleaded for a ceasefire because of the dead and wounded lying on the streets. Electricity has been cut and there is a limited supply of water. Brig. Gen. Bilal Aslam said that "the Lebanese Army prevented supplies and aid from entering the camp." He also claimed militant fighters were stationed on the outskirts of the camp, but not in it.^[6] Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) consists of three branches: Lebanese Army Lebanese Air Force Lebanese Navy // General overview The Lebanese Armed Forces primary missions include maintaining security and stability in the country, guarding the countrys borders, port security, relief operations, rescue operations, fire fighting, and fighting drug smuggling. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... Nahr al-Bared, Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. ... The word militant has come to refer to any individual or party engaged in aggressive physical or verbal combat, normally for a cause. ...

The militant group said it would end confrontations with the Lebanese army starting 14.30 local time.^[7] A fragile truce let 10 people flee Nahr al-Bared.^[8] In Tripoli, one Fatah al-Islam militant blew himself up, after being surrounded by Lebanese soldiers in the same house that security forces had raided on May 21, 2007.^[9]

May 23: Thousands flee Nahr al-Bared

During a nighttime truce announced Tuesday, about 2,000 inhabitants of the Nahr al-Bared camp had been able to flee. Some refugees left on foot while others were in cars and vans. The Red Crescent helped the refugees relocate to the nearby Beddawi camp, where they spent the night at schools. Other refugees left for the nearby city of Tripoli. Reports suggest that snipers fired at the fleeing crowd of refugees as they left their homes.^[6] The truce seemed to have ended when a UN aid convoy was attacked later that night.^[10][11] "The humanitarian situation is very, very bad," said a spokeswoman for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, "and deteriorating every minute. Inside the camp, there are no hospitals and only one health center," which was unable to stay open during the fighting. == T.R.U.C.E == Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Childrens Entertainment. ... Nahr al-Bared, Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. ... The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the worlds largest group of humanitarian non-governmental organizations, often known simply as the Red Cross, after its original symbol. ... Beddawi is a small city situated at the Mediterranean sea about 5 km north of Tripoli. ... This page refers to Tripoli, the city in Lebanon. ... This article is about the United Nations, for other uses of UN see UN (disambiguation) Official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic Secretary-General Kofi Annan (since 1997) Established October 24, 1945 Member states 191 Headquarters New York City, NY, USA Official site http://www. ... A hospital today is an institution for professional health care provided by physicians and nurses. ...

May 24: Sporadic fighting resumes at the camp

The Lebanese Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, vowed to "uproot" terrorism from his country in his address to the nation, blaming the Fatah al-Islam militants for using the Palestinian refugees as hostages in their goal of destabilizing Lebanon. The Prime Minister said that the government would not "surrender to terrorism" and would work to eradicate it. Siniora also stressed that the target of military operations are the militants and not the Palestinian refugees in the camp.^[12] Following the speech, renewed fighting erupted between the militants and the Lebanese army at the entrance of the Nahr al-Bared camp. The Lebanese military shot and sank two inflatable boats carrying militants from the camp. But, the BBC reported that Thursday's gunfire exchanges were sporadic and that there was no sign of the heavy shelling seen before. But government threats of harsh action against the militants has raised fears that the Lebanese army could begin an all-out assault on the camp at any time, raising further concerns for the humanitarian situation of those civilians still inside. [5] Fouad Siniora (alternative spellings: Fouad Sanyoura, Fuad Siniora, Fouad Saniora, Fouad Seniora) (Arabic: ‎, Fuād As-SanyÅ«rah) is the Prime Minister of Lebanon, a position he assumed on 19 July 2005, succeeding Najib Mikati. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a Palestinian refugee is a refugee from Palestine created by the Palestinian Exodus, which Palestinians call the Nakba (نكبة, meaning disaster). History Most of the refugees had already fled by the time the neighboring Arab states intervened on the side of Palestinians... The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) consists of three branches: Lebanese Army Lebanese Air Force Lebanese Navy // General overview The Lebanese Armed Forces primary missions include maintaining security and stability in the country, guarding the countrys borders, port security, relief operations, rescue operations, fire fighting, and fighting drug smuggling. ... Nahr al-Bared, Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion (US$7. ... The word militant can refer to any individual engaged in warfare, a fight, combat, or generally serving as a soldier. ... The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) consists of three branches: Lebanese Army Lebanese Air Force Lebanese Navy // General overview The Lebanese Armed Forces primary missions include maintaining security and stability in the country, guarding the countrys borders, port security, relief operations, rescue operations, fire fighting, and fighting drug smuggling. ... Humanitarianism is the view that all people should be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve as human beings, and that advancing the well-being of humanity is a noble goal. ...

May 25-26: Military aid shipments to Lebanon

Five military transport planes carrying military aid for the Lebanese army from the United States and its Arab allies arrived at Beirut airport. One plane was from the U.S. Air Force, two from the United Arab Emirates Air Force and two from the Royal Jordanian Air Force. ^[13] The planes, which came mainly from US bases in the region, arrived following an appeal for such aid by the Lebanese government. On Saturday May 26, two additional U.S. transport planes also carrying military aid landed in Beirut. ^[14] The military supplies are believed to include ammunition for automatic rifles and heavy weapons, spare parts for military helicopters and night-vision equipment. American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reaffirmed Washington's support for the Siniora government and added that Fatah al-Islam was trying to destabilise the democratically elected Lebanese government. But, Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said he doubted the sudden rise in US sincerity in Lebanese internal affairs. ^[15] Sporadic exchanges of gunfire were also reported between Lebanese troops and Fatah al-Islam fighters as the army continued to build up its presence around the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp. According to the BBC, the militants still holed up inside the camp were determined not to surrender. Aid workers struggled to deliver food and medicine to the thousands of Palestinian refugees who had not left the area. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) consists of three branches: Lebanese Army Lebanese Air Force Lebanese Navy // General overview The Lebanese Armed Forces primary missions include maintaining security and stability in the country, guarding the countrys borders, port security, relief operations, rescue operations, fire fighting, and fighting drug smuggling. ... Languages Arabic other minority languages Religions Predomiantly Sunni Islam, as well as Shia Islam, Greek Orthodoxy, Greek Catholicism, Maronite, Alawite Islam, Druze, Ibadi Islam, and Judaism An Arab (Arabic: ) is any member of the Semitic group of people whose cultural, linguistic, and in certain cases, ancestral origins trace back to... Terminal Overview Rafic Hariri International Airport is located in Beirut, Lebanon and is the only operational commercial airport in the country. ... Seal of the Air Force. ... The United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) is the air force of the United Arab Emirates // The UAE Air Force consists of about 4,000 personnel. ... Royal Jordanian Air Force insignia The Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) (Arabic: القوات الجوية الملكية الأردنية, Transliterated: Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya Almalakiya al-Urduniya in Arabic) is the Aviation branch of the Jordanian Armed Forces. ... For other uses, see Beirut (disambiguation). ... Boxes of ammunition clog a warehouse in Baghdad Ammunition is a generic military term meaning (the assembly of) a projectile and its propellant. ... Heckler & Koch G41 automatic rifles are legal in asutralia an america with lisence An automatic rifle is a term generally used to describe a self-loading rifle capable of firing either semi or fully-automatically from a magazine or belt of ammunition. ... Two American soldiers pictured during the 2003 Iraq War seen through an Image Intensifier Night vision is the ability to see in a dark environment. ... Condoleezza Rice (born November 14, 1954) is the 66th United States Secretary of State, and the second in the administration of President George W. Bush to hold the office. ... Fouad Siniora (alternative spellings: Fouad Sanyoura, Fuad Siniora, Fouad Saniora, Fouad Seniora) (Arabic: , Fuād As-SanyÅ«rah) is the Prime Minister of Lebanon, a position he assumed on 19 July 2005, succeeding Najib Mikati. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... For other uses, see Hezbollah (disambiguation). ... Hassan Nasrallah (Arabic: ) (b. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... Nahr al-Bared, Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion (US$7. ... In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a Palestinian refugee is a refugee from Palestine created by the Palestinian Exodus, which Palestinians call the Nakba (نكبة, meaning disaster). History Most of the refugees had already fled by the time the neighboring Arab states intervened on the side of Palestinians...

May 26 was a largely peaceful day.

May 27-28: Fighting erupts, negotiations continue

Lebanese army posts were shelled and gunfire was heard late on May 27, despite a cease-fire deal at Nahr al-Bared. The head of Fatah al-Islam, the militant Palestinian group, said his men would not surrender. The latest spat of violence came as negotiations were reportedly taking place with the Islamists. The conflict had entered its first week and left dozens dead, including many civilians. A UN staffer declared that about 25,000 had fled the camp by now but thousands still remain. The Lebanese army was helped by new reinforcements being sent up. Lebanese government officials have told AFP that they had given Palestinian factions until the middle of the week to negotiate a peaceful solution to end the fighting. According to the BBC, Fatah al-Islam leaders now seem to have endorsed the same rhetoric as al-Qaeda. The group previously stated that it was defending Muslims and Palestinians in Lebanon but rival factions have distanced themselves from the group. [6] The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) consists of three branches: Lebanese Army Lebanese Air Force Lebanese Navy // General overview The Lebanese Armed Forces primary missions include maintaining security and stability in the country, guarding the countrys borders, port security, relief operations, rescue operations, fire fighting, and fighting drug smuggling. ... An armistice is the effective end of a war, when the warring parties agree to stop fighting. ... Nahr al-Bared, Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... Islamism is a political ideology derived from the conservative religious views of Muslim fundamentalism. ... This article is about the United Nations, for other uses of UN see UN (disambiguation) Official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic Secretary-General Kofi Annan (since 1997) Established October 24, 1945 Member states 191 Headquarters New York City, NY, USA Official site http://www. ... The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) consists of three branches: Lebanese Army Lebanese Air Force Lebanese Navy // General overview The Lebanese Armed Forces primary missions include maintaining security and stability in the country, guarding the countrys borders, port security, relief operations, rescue operations, fire fighting, and fighting drug smuggling. ... AFP logo Paris headquarters of AFP Charles Havas Agence France-Presse (AFP) is the oldest news agency in the world, and one of the three largest with Associated Press and Reuters. ... The term Palestinian has other usages, for which see definitions of Palestinian. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion (US$7. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... Al-Qaeda (Arabic: القاعدة, the foundation or the base) is the name given to a worldwide network of militant Islamist organizations under the leadership of Osama bin Laden. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... The Palestinian flag, adopted in 1948, is a widely recognized modern symbol of the Palestinian people. ...

May 29-30: Fighting and charges

Sporadic fighting erupted on May 29 between the Lebanese army and militants, with no sign of progress in efforts to mediate an end to the 10-day standoff. One Lebanese soldier was killed in the clashes. ^[16] On May 30, Lebanon charged 20 members of Fatah al-Islam with terrorism. Judiciary sources said Wednesday's charges against the 19 Lebanese and one Syrian, all in custody, carried the death penalty. ^[17] May 29 is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ...

Bombings in Beirut

May 21

Fatah al-Islam claimed responsibility for two bombings that took place in Beirut.^[18]. Then a spokesman for the group denied any responsibility for them.^[19] The first bombing occurred shortly after midnight on May 21, killing a woman near the ABC shopping mall in Beirut's largely Christian eastern district of Ashrafieh. At least 10 people were hurt in the blast.^[5] Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... For other uses, see Beirut (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Beirut (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Ashrafieh - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

On the same day, at approximately 11 PM local time in Beirut, a second large explosion was heard in the mainly Muslim district of Verdun, located in a shopping area. ^[20] At least seven people were wounded and the neighbouring buildings were severely damaged.^[21] For other uses, see Beirut (disambiguation). ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ...

A third bombing, in a Christian neighborhood northeast of Beirut called Mansouriyeh, was foiled when authorities caught a Palestinian and an Egyptian carrying a bag full of explosives. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The term Palestinian has other usages, for which see definitions of Palestinian. ...

May 23

On May 23, a bomb went off near the main government building in Aley, a majority Druze town about 17 km northeast of Beirut. Reports said about five people were injured and a few buildings damaged by the blast. The security forces said the bomb was in a bag that had been left in front of a building close to a shopping district.^[5] May 23 is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Aley River is a Russian river. ... Religions Druzism Scriptures Languages Arabic, Hebrew The Druze (Arabic: درزي, derzī or durzī, plural دروز, durūz; Hebrew: , Druzim; also transliterated Druz or Druse) are a Middle Eastern religious community whose traditional religion began as an offshoot of the Ismaili sect of Islam, but is unique in its incorporation of Gnostic, neo... For other uses, see Beirut (disambiguation). ...

May 27

In Beirut, on May 27, two policemen and two civilians were injured when a grenade was thrown in a mainly Muslim section of the city. [7] For other uses, see Beirut (disambiguation). ... Grenade may refer to: The well-known hand grenade commonly used by soldiers. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ...

Reactions

• Fouad Siniora, Lebanon's prime minister, accused Fatah al-Islam of trying to destabilise the country.^[11] Lebanese Interior Minister Hasan al-Sabaa described Fatah al-Islam as "part of the Syrian intelligence-security apparatus." Lebanon's national police commander, Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, dismissed any purported al-Qaeda connection, saying Fatah al-Islam was controlled by Damascus. Lebanese Christian leader Samir Geagea said that Fatah al-Islam is an offshoot of Syrian intelligence and its terrorist activities must end.^[22] Nayla Mouawad, Lebanese social affairs minister, said the militants have "Syrian allegiance and only take orders from Syria."^[6] Lebanese Minister of Economy and Trade, Sami Haddad, told the BBC his government suspected Syria of masterminding the violence.^[5] Haddad also asked for money and resources to help Lebanese forces battling the militants. "I take this opportunity to ask our friends all over the world — Arab governments and friendly Western governments — to help us both logistically and with military equipment," he declared.^[6] The Lebanese Cabinet declared its "full support" for military efforts to end the fighting, said Mohamed Chatah, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. "Lebanese security forces are targeting militants and are not randomly shooting into the refugee camp," Chatah said.^[6] The living conditions at the camp are partly to blame for the rise of Fatah al-Islam, according to Khalil Makkawi, a former Lebanese ambassador to the United Nations.^[6] Lebanese President Emile Lahoud called on all Lebanese to unite around the army.^[23] Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, a supporter of Lebanon's governing coalition, said there were "no proposals" for a military solution. "But we want the murderers handed over to Lebanese justice," he said. [8]
• Minutes after the violence erupted, Syria temporarily closed two border crossings with northern Lebanon because of security concerns.^[2] Syrian leaders deny fomenting violence in Lebanon.^[6] Syria's ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, has denied his country had any links to the group, and said some of them had been in jail in Syria for their support of al-Qaeda.^[5]
• The Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian factions' union delegation to the Grand Serail stressed Palestinians should shoulder responsibility of the improvised action by Fatah al-Islam. The delegation comprised representatives from Hamas, The Democratic Front, Sa'iqa, Nidal Front, Islamic Jihad, Fatah al-Intifada, Palestinian Liberation Front and Abbas Zaki, the representative of the executive committee of the PLO.^[23]
• U.S. President George W. Bush said the Islamists needed to be stopped. "Extremists that are trying to topple that young democracy need to be reined in," he said.^[5] The U.S. State Department dismissed any links between this week's violence and efforts to establish the international tribunal to try suspects for the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.^[6]
• A Fatah al-Islam spokesman, Abu Salim, told Al-Jazeera television that the group was only defending itself. "We were forced and compelled to be in this confrontation with the Lebanese army," Abu Salim said in an interview on Arabic language network Al-Jazeera.^[6] Fatah al-Islam's leader, Shaker al-Abssi, told Al-Arabiya TV in June that his group had no connection to al-Qaeda or Syria. He said, his group seeks to reform Palestinian refugee camps in accordance with Islamic law, or Sharia.^[6] In a video message released by the Fatah al-Islam leader he ruled out surrender. "O advocates of the US plan, we tell you that Sunnis will be a spearhead in fighting the Jews, Americans and their allies," he said. [9]
• In an address to mark the seventh anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Shia militant group Hezbollah, urged the Lebanese government not to storm the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp to destroy the radicals of Fatah al-Islam. He added the conflict could be solved politically without any escalation. "The Nahr al-Bared camp and Palestinian civilians are a red line," Nasrallah said. "We will not accept or provide cover or be partners in this." Nasrallah also condemned attacks against the army and said: "The Lebanese army is the guardian of security, stability and national unity in this country. We should all regard this army as the only institution left capable of preserving security and stability in this country." [10] Nasrallah was skeptical of a U.S. military aid shipment to Lebanon and according to the Hezbollah leader, the Lebanese should not allow themselves to become entangled with al-Qaeda on behalf of the United States. "I wonder why all this care now for the Lebanese army," he said, referring to the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. [11] "Are you willing to fight the wars of others inside Lebanon?" he asked his audience. Hezbollah views extremist Sunni groups such as al-Qaeda and Fatah al-Islam as enemies. [12]

Image File history File links Flag_of_Lebanon. ... Fouad Siniora (alternative spellings: Fouad Sanyoura, Fuad Siniora, Fouad Saniora, Fouad Seniora) (Arabic: ‎, Fuād As-SanyÅ«rah) is the Prime Minister of Lebanon, a position he assumed on 19 July 2005, succeeding Najib Mikati. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... Hassan Sabeh (حسن سبع) is a Lebanese politician and currently the Interior Minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. ... General Ashraf Rifi (Arabic: ; also spelled Achraf Rifi) (born April 1, 1954 in Tripoli, Lebanon) is the general director of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (the national police). ... Al-Qaeda (Arabic: القاعدة, the foundation or the base) is the name given to a worldwide network of militant Islamist organizations under the leadership of Osama bin Laden. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... Damascus ( transliteration: , also commonly known as الشام ash-Shām) is the largest city of Syria and is also the capital. ... Christianity in Lebanon has a long history and has been closely connected with many recent conflicts in that country. ... Samir Farid Geagea (Arabic: سمير فريد جعجع, also Samir Ja`ja`) born October 25, 1952 is the leader of the right wing Lebanese Forces (LF) political party. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... Nayla Moawad (Arabic: نائله معوض) (born 3 July 1940) is a Lebanese politician. ... The word militant can refer to any individual engaged in warfare, a fight, combat, or generally serving as a soldier. ... Sami Haddad (Arabic: ) (born August 26, 1950) is the Lebanese minister of economy and trade. ... Languages Arabic other minority languages Religions Predomiantly Sunni Islam, as well as Shia Islam, Greek Orthodoxy, Greek Catholicism, Maronite, Alawite Islam, Druze, Ibadi Islam, and Judaism An Arab (Arabic: ) is any member of the Semitic group of people whose cultural, linguistic, and in certain cases, ancestral origins trace back to... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This is the list of the Lebanese government that was formed by Fouad Siniora on 19 July 2005. ... Mohamad Bahaa Chatah (Arabic: ) is a Lebanese economist and diplomat. ... Fouad Siniora (alternative spellings: Fouad Sanyoura, Fuad Siniora, Fouad Saniora, Fouad Seniora) (Arabic: ‎, Fuād As-SanyÅ«rah) is the Prime Minister of Lebanon, a position he assumed on 19 July 2005, succeeding Najib Mikati. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... Émile Lahoud General Émile Geamil Lahoud (Arabic: اميل لحود) (born January 12, 1936) is the current President of Lebanon. ... Religions Druzism Scriptures Languages Arabic, Hebrew The Druze (Arabic: درزي, derzÄ« or durzÄ«, plural دروز, durÅ«z; Hebrew: , Druzim; also transliterated Druz or Druse) are a Middle Eastern religious community whose traditional religion began as an offshoot of the Ismaili sect of Islam, but is unique in its incorporation of Gnostic, neo... Picture of Walid Jumblatt Walid Jumblatt (Arabic: وليد جنبلاط‎) (born August 7, 1949) is the current leader of the Progressive Socialist Party of Lebanon and the most prominent leader of the Druze community. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Syria. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... Al-Qaeda (Arabic: القاعدة, the foundation or the base) is the name given to a worldwide network of militant Islamist organizations under the leadership of Osama bin Laden. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Palestine. ... The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (Arabic: ‎;   or Munazzamat al-Tahrir al-Filastiniyyah) is a political and paramilitary organization regarded by the Arab League since October 1974 as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. ... The Grand Serail (Arabic: السراي الكبير) is the headquarters of the Prime Minister of Lebanon. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... Hamas (Arabic: ; acronym: Arabic: , or Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya or Islamic Resistance Movement; the Arabic acronym means zeal) is a Palestinian Islamist organization that currently (since January 2006) forms the majority party of the Palestinian National Authority. ... Democratic Front is the name of the current governing coalition in the Indian state of Maharashtra. ... As-Saiqa (also transliterated as al-Saika, Saeqa, etc, from Arabic: الصاعقة meaning storm or thunderbolt; also known as the Vanguard for the Popular Liberation War) is a Palestinian political and military faction created and controlled by Syria. ... Islamic Jihad (Arabic: ‎, Harakat al-Jihad al-Islami) is a terrorist Islamist group based in the Syrian capital, Damascus. ... Fatah al-Intifada (Arabic, Fatah Uprising, فتح الانتفاضة) is a Palestinian militant faction founded by Col. ... The Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) was founded to create a Palestinian state; it was headquartered first in Lebanon, and later in Tunisia. ... The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (Arabic Munazzamat al-Tahrir Filastiniyyah منظمة تحرير فلسطينية ) is a political and paramilitary organization of Palestinian Arabs dedicated to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state to consist of the... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... Islamism is a political ideology derived from the conservative religious views of Muslim fundamentalism. ... The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States government, equivalent to foreign ministries in other countries. ... Rafiq Bahaa Edine Hariri (born November, 1944) is a Lebanese billionaire businessman, and was Prime Minister of Lebanon until his resignation on October 20, 2004. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_jihad. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... Al Jazeera (Arabic: , , , meaning The Island, or (Northwest) Mesopotamia[1]) is a television network headquartered in Doha, Qatar. ... Al Jazeera (Arabic: , , , meaning The Island, or (Northwest) Mesopotamia[1]) is a television network headquartered in Doha, Qatar. ... Shaker al-Abssi (Arabic: ), a veteran Palestinian guerrilla, is Fatah al-Islams leader. ... Al-Arabiya is an Arabic-language satellite news channel based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates which began broadcasting in February 2003, launched with an investment of $300 million from the Saudi-owned MBC, the Lebanese Hariri Group, and others. ... Al-Qaeda (Arabic: القاعدة, the foundation or the base) is the name given to a worldwide network of militant Islamist organizations under the leadership of Osama bin Laden. ... The term Palestinian has other usages, for which see definitions of Palestinian. ... Sharia (Arabic: transliteration: ) is the body of Islamic law. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Hezbollah. ... Hassan Nasrallah (Arabic: ) (b. ... Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ... For other uses, see Hezbollah (disambiguation). ... Nahr al-Bared, Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ... The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) consists of three branches: Lebanese Army Lebanese Air Force Lebanese Navy // General overview The Lebanese Armed Forces primary missions include maintaining security and stability in the country, guarding the countrys borders, port security, relief operations, rescue operations, fire fighting, and fighting drug smuggling. ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ... Al-Qaeda (Arabic: القاعدة, the foundation or the base) is the name given to a worldwide network of militant Islamist organizations under the leadership of Osama bin Laden. ... The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) consists of three branches: Lebanese Army Lebanese Air Force Lebanese Navy // General overview The Lebanese Armed Forces primary missions include maintaining security and stability in the country, guarding the countrys borders, port security, relief operations, rescue operations, fire fighting, and fighting drug smuggling. ... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... Fatah al-Islam, (Arabic: فتح الإسلام, English: Conquest of Islam) is a Sunni Arab Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. ...

References

BBC News Online logo The BBC News Website in February 2006. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... Yedioth Ahronoth (Hebrew: ידיעות אחרונות, meaning latest news) is a major Hebrew newspaper published in Israel. ... Reuters Group plc (LSE: RTR and NASDAQ: RTRSY); pron. ... Haaretz (Hebrew: (help· info), The Land) is an Israeli newspaper, founded in 1919. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... January 22 is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Yedioth Ahronoth (Hebrew: ידיעות אחרונות, meaning latest news) is a major Hebrew newspaper published in Israel. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Al-Manar (المنار; Arabic for The Beacon) is a satellite television station broadcasting from Beirut, Lebanon. ...

See also

• Siege of Beirut
• War of the camps
• Battle of Jenin
• 2006–2007 Lebanese political protests

Combatants Israel Defense Forces Palestinian Liberation Organization Commanders Ariel Sharon Yasir Arafat Strength 30,000 15,000 Casualties 368 soldiers killed, 2,383 wounded 1000 PLO guerillas killed, 6000 captured. ... The War of the Camps was a subconflict within the Lebanese Civil War in which Palestinian refugee camps were besieged by the Shiite Amal militia. ... Combatants  Israel Defense Forces Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Fatah, Tanzim, Hamas Commanders Yedidia Yehuda [5] Mahmoud Tawallbe† Strength 1,000 200-250 Casualties 23 soldiers killed 52 killed (38 armed men, 14 civilians according to IDF; 30 militants, 22 civilians according to HRW) 685 persons arrested (mostly... The 2006–2007 Lebanese political protests were a series of protests and sit-ins that began on 1 December 2006, led by groups in Lebanon that opposed the Western-backed government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. ...

External links

• UNRWA Lebanon: Nahr El Bared Emergency
• In pictures: Lebanon battles on 20 May (BBC)
• In pictures: Lebanon refugees flee 23 May (BBC)
• A new face of Al Qaeda emerges in Lebanon
• (www.lebanon-support.org) Day to day information on Humanitarian activities for the refugees of Nahr El Bared