By RIA Novosti
Damascus : The leader of militant Islamist group Fatah al-Islam has been killed in a Lebanese Army attack on a Palestinian refugee camp in north Lebanon, reports said.
Shaker al-Abssi was gunned down in a fierce fire fight when the Lebanese Army stormed the Nahr al-Bared camp Sunday, killing or arresting almost all insurgents, reports said. A Fatah al-Islam prisoner identified the body of al-Abssi, reports said.
But the Lebanese officials said they were awaiting the result of a DNA test before officially issuing a statement on the jihadist leader.
During the battle, some 35 members of the Islamist outfit were reported killed.
In one of the country’s most brutal fighting for over a decade, more than 300 people are believed to have died since the army’s three-month siege on the refugee camp began.
The final showdown between the ‘Al Qaeda inspired’ group and the Lebanese army erupted when fighters attempted a night breakout from the camp.
According to reports, celebrations broke out among local residents after the battle and the villagers greeted the troops.