LEBANON: EAC REVIEWS COMBAT AT NAHR EL-BARAD;

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000782

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/MARCHESE/HARDING

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2012
TAGS: ASEC PTER CASC AMGT LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: EAC REVIEWS COMBAT AT NAHR EL-BARAD;
SECURITY THREAT LEVEL

REF: BEIRUT 780 (DTG 011421Z JUN 07)

Classified By: Jeffrey Feltman, Ambassador. Reason: Sections 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) On June 2 at 1300 hrs. local, the DCM chaired a full
emergency action committee (EAC) meeting to review the status
of military operations at the Nahr el-Barad Palestinian
refugee camp and related security threats throughout Lebanon.
The EAC agreed to lift the suspension of all off-compound
personal moves, with such moves to be reviewed for approval
on a case by case basis with emphasis on restricting moves to
low threat areas.


2. (C) Embassy Defense Attache provided a summary of
military activity at the Nahr el-Barad Palestinian refugee
camp near Tripoli, based on his briefing from the Lebanese
Armed Forces (LAF) General Staff that occurred two hours
earlier. Details are reported in other messages. In
general, the second day of combat at Nahr el-Barad had found
continued resistance from Fatah el-Islam fighters,
house-to-house fighting, high LAF morale, and some additional
LAF casualties. At this time, it was difficult to predict
how long combat operations would continue, with a possible
range of several days to up to two weeks. The next two to
three days may give a better indication of how long the
fighting will persist. The LAF has seized flat terrain
within the camp that is relatively easy to take; the majority
of the camp presents more difficult challenges, and fighting
is most intense in two principal areas.


3. (C) Lebanese security service officials have
characterized the overall security situation in the country
as "tense but stable" in their conversations with EAC
members. In this context, the EAC agreed to lift the
suspension of all off-compound personal moves (reftel).
Off-compound personal moves will be assessed by the Embassy
Front Office and RSO with respect to minimizing travel to
areas of higher risk, such as street-side restaurants or
shopping malls. Embassy staff will continue to exercise the
prudent judgment that they have practiced during the past
week in requesting off-compound travel.


4. (C) The ODC representative reviewed the schedule of
anticipated U.S. military flights into Beirut International
Airport during the next several days.


5. (C) The consular chief reported that he had dispatched
an updated warden message to the American community in
Lebanon on the evening of June 1. There are no immediate
plans for further warden messages.


6. (C) The EAC agreed to re-convene on June 4 at 1300 hrs.
local.
FELTMAN