Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral of Abdul-Rahman Awad, a senior leader of Fatah Al- Islam. One of his top commanders, Ghazi Faysal Abdullah, also was buried Thursday.
“God give you mercy!” Awad’s 75-year-old mother shouted as Awad’s body, covered in a white cloth, was carried on a stretcher through the narrow streets of the camp.
Awad and his aide, Ghazi Faysal Abdullah, were killed by Lebanese security forces Saturday while en route to Iraq, according to the Washington-based SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks militant postings on the Internet.
Fatah Al-Islam was little known before it fought a three-month battle against the Lebanese army in 2007. About 220 militants and 171 soldiers were killed in the fighting.
Palestinian officials said 47 civilians were killed.
Lebanon stepped up pressure on the militant group after the 2007 clashes, and last year, a Lebanese military court convicted 12 Fatah Islam members of carrying out terrorist acts. Five of the men — including Awad —received life sentences in absentia.
