Lebanese commandos have blown up the home of the Islamist militia chief in a besieged refugee camp where fighting flared again on Tuesday in the fourth week of a deadly stand-off. Clouds of white smoke billowed into the sky as the army shelled Fatah al-Islam positions in the Nahr al-Bared camp, the epicentre of the deadliest fighting in decades.
Gun battles raged between Lebanese troops and Islamist militiamen on Tuesday, with both sides vowing to pursue the fighting that has killed 58 people in the last three days. Black plumes of smoke billowed into the sky as troops fired tank shells and artillery at positions of al-Qaeda inspired militants from Fatah al-Islam.
Violence in Iraq has shattered Lebanon’s trade with that country, with shipments through Tripoli port halved and road transport down 70%, as Lebanese remain prey to Iraqi hostage-takers. Out of about 15 Lebanese kidnapped in Iraq, telecom employee Hussein Olayyan was found murdered in Baghdad in June and three others are still being held.