 MOHAMMARA, Lebanon - The last area of a Palestinian refugee camp devastated by more than three months of fighting between Islamic militants and Lebanese soldiers fell to the army on Sunday, security officials said.
Hours after the army killed 32 militants and captured at least 15 others as they tried to flee the Nahr el-Bared camp, only occasional gunfire could be heard inside. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the last stronghold of Fatah Islam militants fell later in the day to the army, which captured five wounded militants in their hideout.
"Don't kill us! Please don't kill us!"
"Into the paddy wagon wit' yez!" |
Celebratory gunfire erupted in nearby villages as soon as the news spread.
"Duck, Mahmoud! They're celebrating!"
"Aaaaiiieee!" |
Dozens of residents took to the streets of Mohammara, waving Lebanese flags and honking their horns as troop convoys poured into the area with soldiers flashing victory signs. But the army was not ready to formally declare fighting over in the camp, large parts of which have been destroyed by army bombardments since the siege began.
| Learned something from the last premature declaration of victory, did they? |
The gunbattles began overnight and tapered off by the afternoon, with troops searching for Fatah al-Islam fighters in buildings, fields and roads around Nahr el-Bared camp, residents reported. |