Lebanese troops have begun a final assault on positions held by Islamic militants at a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon, a local television station said Thursday.
The Nahr al-Bared camp, one of 12 Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, has been the scene of fierce fighting between the Lebanese Army and Fatah al-Islam militants during the past two months that has left at least 89 soldiers and over 120 militants and civilians dead.
"Thursday morning, the army pounded the militants` positions in the `old part` of the camp," the LBC television station said.
However, the Lebanese military denied the reports, insisting that Thursday`s fighting was not a final push but merely a routine operation.
"The army`s response is in the framework of tightening the noose on the remaining elements of Fatah al-Islam inside the camp," Reuters quoted a Lebanese military source as saying.
Most of the territory surrounding the refugee camp is a conglomerate of multi-story buildings seriously damaged in the clashes between government troops and Palestinian militants that have raged since May 20.
On Thursday, the army concentrated artillery fire on the central part of the camp, where the remaining buildings could be used by militants for cover.
LBC television said the camp was obscured by clouds of smoke, and the sound of explosions was accompanied by barrages of automatic gunfire.
The Lebanese newspaper Al-Liwa earlier reported that Lebanon`s military command held talks Tuesday with Palestinian mediators on the withdrawal of civilians, and that about 200 residents left the camp yesterday.
Lebanon has demanded the unconditional surrender of Fatah al-Islam, reportedly linked to al-Qaeda, and has refused to conduct direct talks with the Islamist group.
In line with a 1969 agreement, Lebanese troops cannot enter the camp.
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