70 Killed as Rival Christian Forces Clash in E. Beirut
BEIRUT — Rival Christians fought from house to house for control of East Beirut on Thursday, killing 70 people in close-quarter fighting waged with tanks, artillery, rockets and mortars.
Security sources said the dead included 30 civilians. About 150 people were wounded.
The fighting set the main Dora commercial district ablaze, and Voice of Lebanon radio pleaded for firefighters to tackle a huge fire raging there, threatening Lebanon’s main fuel depot.
Security sources said that troops of Maj. Gen. Michel Aoun gained some ground in their assault. It began before dawn and continued all day, with shells and rockets smashing into residential areas, sometimes at a rate of 20 a minute.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea vowed before the fighting that if need be, his militia would fight to the death.
Thursday’s casualties raised the overall toll since Jan. 31, when fighting broke out, to 780 killed and 2,600 wounded. The fighting ended a 13-day cease-fire between Aoun’s 15,000 troops and the 10,000-strong Lebanese Forces in the battle for control of Lebanon’s Christian enclave.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
