Lebanon's war on terror is not yet over, despite the army's crushing defeat of Fatah Islam in a Palestinian refugee camp this week, according to the defense minister and senior military commanders. They reiterated claims that the militant Islamic group had close links to al-Qaida.Defense Minister Elias Murr told a news conference that 222 Fatah Islam militants were killed in the three-month battle, which ended after the Lebanese army staged a final assault Sunday as the militants attempted a breakout from the Nahr el-Bared camp. The fighters were soon locked in a fierce battle with the troops who took over the camp unopposed within hours.
Murr said some 202 militants had been captured. The army lost 163 soldiers in the fighting that began May 20. At least 20 civilians were also killed in the three-month standoff, which forced the camp's more than 30,000 refugees to flee.
Murr said the militants — who hailed from various Arab countries — had planned to cut off northern Lebanon from the rest of the country and create a "terrorist state" there, using Nahr el-Bared as a "refuge and center to export terrorism to the world, relying on the worst criminals and terrorists of different nationalities."
Lebanon's military intelligence chief, Brig. George Khoury, also told reporters that large quantities of weapons and ammunition, including machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and explosives were seized. "Al-Qaida was in constant contact with Fatah al-Islam... Fatah al-Islam was totally linked to al-Qaida," Khoury said, without elaborating. "We shall continue the war on terror," despite the collapse of Fatah al-Islam, he said.
People lining the main north-south highway near the camp cheered and waved the Lebanese flag on Tuesday as the army's combatant units withdrew from the camp to their bases.
Backing Lebanese suspicions that Fatah Islam has ties to al-Qaida, an Islamist Web site that usually carries al-Qaida statements has opened a special page to receive "congratulations on the martyrdom of the holy warrior Sheik Shaker al-Absi."
"The Islamic nation is bidding farewell to one of the greatest holy warriors," said a contributor, calling himself Abu Bilal Seif.
"May God let down those who betrayed Fatah Islam," wrote another commentator.
Murr said Fatah al-Islam's defeat was "a victory for every near and friendly country." He added that the international community should make a point of better arming the Lebanese military. "After this victory, arming and modernizing (the army) is a national priority and an international duty. It is not acceptable after today that it (the army) suffers from lack of weapons and equipment," said Murr. "We stress our determination to continue confronting terrorism," he added.
Murr said the destroyed camp would remain under the authority of the Lebanese state. Under a 1969 Arab League agreement, Lebanon's 12 Palestinian refugee camps have been off limits to the Lebanese army and are run by armed Palestinian factions.