Lebanese Army advances on Fatah al-Islam positions, killing 16

[oberliner]

BEIRUT: The Lebanese Army continued advancing against Fatah al-Islam positions in the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp on Friday, taking over buildings used by Fatah al-Islam snipers and tightening the army's grip on what remains of the militant group's fighters amid heavy and persistent bombardment.

Fierce battles erupted around the camp's Samed center, the Cooperative building and UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) schools, where the remnants of Fatah al-Islam fighters are holed up. Thick plumes of smoke were seen billowing from these positions as fires engulfed buildings around the area. While the army reported no casualties, an estimated 16 Fatah al-Islam fighters are believed to have fallen on Friday, six of them at the Mhammara front, said a report by the National News Agency.

The army briefly stopped bombardment at about noon to allow camp residents to go to Friday prayers. The reduction in the intensity of the bombardment allowed the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in conjunction with the Palestinian Red Crescent, to ferry out 85 camp residents, mostly women, children, the elderly and the infirm.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=82877

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[Boojatta]

2. Could Israel hire the Lebanese army for some sensitive tasks?

Some possible benefits:

1. It could be a precedent for increased cooperation between Israel and neighboring countries.

2. People around the world might feel less anger towards Israel.

Can anyone think of other possible benefits?

[oberliner]

3. What sort of sensitive tasks?

What are you referring to?