Amal Militia Leaving Beirut, Will Focus on Fighting Israelis

Amal militia leader Nabih Berri announced Friday that his pro-Syrian forces will be withdrawn from West Beirut, the southern suburbs of the city and eastern Lebanon and sent to the southern part of the country.

“All my fighters should go to southern Lebanon to fight the Israeli enemy, and I urge the Amal military command in the south to establish military training camps in every village,” Berri said at a news conference at his headquarters in Muslim West Beirut.

The announcement follows last week’s cessation of hostilities between Amal and the rival Shia Muslim militia, the pro-Iranian Hezbollah group, in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

During three weeks of fierce fighting, Hezbollah, or Party of God, gained control of 90% of the 14-square-mile area.

The fighting ended when 2,000 Syrian troops assisted by 400 Lebanese security personnel entered the war-ravaged neighborhoods. The fighting left at least 300 people dead and more than 1,100 wounded.

“I announce that the Amal militias will be disbanded in all of Lebanon with the exception of the south,” Berri said.

Bid for Control

Political sources said Berri’s decision was an attempt to consolidate his control in the south while leaving security in the suburbs to Syria, which has 30,000 troops deployed in West Beirut and northern and eastern Lebanon.

Berri said Amal military offices in the southern suburbs will be closed indefinitely.

“Security in the suburbs, Beirut and eastern Lebanon is not our affair,” Berri said. “Only one office will remain open in every neighborhood in the suburbs to handle cultural and educational activities and services.”