I asked Timor Goksel (former spokesperson of the UN forces in Lebanon, and a knowledgeable observer of the Lebanese scene) for his take. With his permission, I am quoting him: (I will not quote for you his recommendations for good food in Istanbul)

"UNIFIL will not help Lebanese army. Out of question. Don't believe it. It can't happen. Well I have been warning from the outset about the solidarity actions by other Sunni radicals and their Pal allies. You heard what happened at ain el hilweh today. Luckily Lebanese army is much better informed about that camp and has a good handle on most other Palestinian groups. I expected to intervene and they did because they are stakeholders. It means the situation in Nahr el Bared must be getting desperate for Fatah el islam. There, the army is trying to isolate these people and more than that, they are probing the opposition. Nobody seems to know the strength and weaponry of these Fath el Islam types. They are fighting hard because they don't care about the damage to the camp and the poor souls who opted to stay behind to guard their property which they simply cannot afford to lose. Lebanese army is amazing in many ways. Very poorly equipped, not even combat radios. Most soldiers don't have body armor. The officers are trying to lead the war with their cellulars. Also the army is accused to heavy firing but they simply don't have the weapons needed for urban warfare. Last year when Lebanese army was assigned to the South I remember pleading with western powers to give the army sleeping bags and tents!!! So at the end they got 20 Humvees. But the army always short of gas. How are they quench those monsters? I expected FATAH to intervene....also please quote me saying that the Lebanese army troops have displayed incredible spirit and are not hesitating despite the enormous risks of urban warfare."

PS The views of Timor are his alone, and don't represent the UN or Angry Arab.