A military spokesman said the Lebanese Army has been pushing back hundreds of Fatah Al Islam fighters in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahar Al Bared. The spokesman said the army was using its two French-made SA-342 Gazelle combat helicopters to fire air-to-ground missiles toward suspected Fatah Al Islam strongholds.

"We have entered the final stage," the unidentified spokesman said. "We will fight until the end."

The SA-342 contains a payload of AS-12 and HOT missiles. The combat suite is operated by an optical targeting system and laser designator.

The Lebanese Army received nine Gazelles from the United Arab Emirates in March 2007. At the time, Lebanese military sources said the helicopters were not equipped with missiles.

Military sources said the turning point in the war took place on Aug. 9 when Fatah Al Islam launched an offensive to break the army seige in Naher Al Bared. The sources said the Gazelles tracked and killed Islamic fighters and drove others back in their positions.

Many of the commanders in Fatah Al Islam have been identified as Saudi nationals. One of them was Saleh Ali Omar Al Mokdah Al Nahdi, killed last week. So far, at least 18 Saudis have been killed in the insurrection, the Saudi daily Al Watan said on Aug. 9.