Islamic militant clashes spread in Lebanon

Lebanese troops have stormed a suspected Islamic militant hideout in the northern city of Tripoli, killing seven people. Security sources say soldiers came under fire late on Saturday night after raiding an apartment. Militants had killed three of the building’s residents. One solider was also shot dead and 14 others wounded before the ten-hour siege ended.

Authorities have linked the standoff to a month- long battle between the army and Islamist militants in the nearby Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp. The fighting has left more than 170 people dead, in Lebanon’s worst internal violence since the 1975-90 civil war.

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