By DPA
Dora (Lebanon) : Thousands of people cheered Lebanese troops returning from north Lebanon as they entered Beirut after the army said it had killed at least 222 extremists during a more than three-month stand-off against militants.
Women, children and men lined the streets of Dora district at the entrance of the capital Tuesday, throwing rice and cheering convoys of Lebanese Army commandos who were returning to their bases in the capital after fighting pitched battles with Fatah al-Islam militants in Nahr al-Bared refugee camp.
“God protect our army,” the crowd shouted.
Earlier, Defence Minister Elias Murr hailed the battles that ended Sunday as a key victory that prevented the Fatah al-Islam group from spreading across Lebanon.
“This victory allowed us to put an end to the worst threat ever faced by the Lebanese,” Murr told a press conference.
Dozens of Palestinians who had been forced to flee the camp also joined in the celebrations, waving Palestinian flags when the convoy left the northern city of Tripoli.
Ambulances and fire trucks honked their horns as the soldiers went by, all smiles and flashing the “V” for victory sign.
“I came with my wife and children to celebrate the army’s victory,” Nadim Hajj said.
“May those army martyrs rest in peace,” Hajj shouted.
Murr said 163 soldiers had been killed in what was described as Lebanon’s worst internal unrest since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war. Another 400 to 500 troops were wounded.
“The number of terrorists killed stands at 222, and there are 202 who were taken prisoner,” Murr said.
An undetermined number of militants had also been buried in mass graves inside the camp by comrades, Murr added.
The defence minister stressed that the bombed-out seaside camp would remain under the authority of the state.
“There will be no authority but that of the state to protect the civilians at Nahr al-Bared,” Murr said. “Our Palestinian brothers also paid a dear price because of these terrorists.”
Before clashes began on May 20 at Nahr al-Bared, Lebanon’s 12 Palestinian camps were declared off-limits to the army and were under the control of armed Palestinian factions.
Some 367,000 Palestinian refugees live in 12 camps scattered across Lebanon.