Clashes between the Lebanese army and Islamic militants near a Palestinian refugee camp left 39 dead and dozens injured.The violence Sunday pitted the army against an Islamist group, Fatah al-Islam, whose influence has been gaining in recent years, The New York Times reported. The group is believed to have between 150 and 200 fighters and subscribes to the principles of al-Qaida. Lebanon’s 400,000 Palestinians enjoy few rights, and their camps often are hotbeds of militancy, much of it directed against Israel.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.