Army Continues Battling Islamic Militants at Hideout

Jun 04, 07:39 AM

Current Headlines: By HUSSEIN DAKROUB

By HUSSEIN DAKROUB

The Associated Press

TRIPOLI, Lebanon - Lebanon's army pounded Islamic militants hiding in a bombed out Palestinian refugee camp Sunday for the third straight day, while fighting erupted outside another camp in the south, stoking fears of widespread violence breaking out in the country.

Fierce fighting has engulfed the outskirts of the Nahr el-Bared camp in northern Lebanon since Friday, when the Lebanese army - using tanks and artillery - launched an offensive to drive the Fatah Islam militants from their positions inside the settlement.

But they have faced strong resistance, and the relentless bombardments threaten to anger Palestinians in the country's other refugee camps, possibly causing violence to spread.

Near the southern city of Sidon, suspected members of the militant Islamic group Jund al-Sham fired a rocket-propelled- grenade at a Lebanese army checkpoint outside a camp Sunday, wounding at least five people, security officials said .

The attack prompted a shootout between the troops and militants, causing people to flee into homes and mosques for safety. It was not clear if the attack was related to the conflict in the north, but several hardline Islamic groups have called on Muslims to support Fatah Islam.

A senior Lebanese army officer said nine Lebanese troops have been killed in the fighting at the northern Nahr el-Bared camp since Friday, raising the army's death toll to 44 since the standoff there began two weeks ago.

At least 20 civilians and about 60 militants have also been killed, but that doesn't include casualties in the past three days because relief organizations and journalists have been prohibited from entering the camp.

Fatah Islam spokesman Abu Salim Taha said five militants, including a senior leader, had been killed and seven wounded .

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