The United States and Arab allies kept their promise and sent military aid on Friday to Lebanon’s army in its fight against al-Qaida-inspired Islamic militants barricaded inside a Palestinian refugee camp.

Many Beirut residents spotted two military transports as they landed at the local airport
Friday morning. By the end of the day, at least six military transport planes carrying ammunition and other light equipment landed, including one from the U.S. Air Force, two from the Emirates' air force and two Royal Jordanian Air Force planes.

"The United States has existing agreements to provide [military] assistance to Lebanon. Under those agreements we are expediting the delivery of supplies," said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the White House National Security Council.

Condoleezza Rice also underlined on Thursday the Bush administration's support for the Lebanese government.
“I certainly hope that the Lebanese government will be able to deal with these extremists,” Rice said. “It's just another example of extremists in the Middle East who are trying to destabilize democratic governments.”

There were sporadic gunfire exchanges early Friday in the fighting as the Lebanese army continued to build up around the refugee camp. This building up might be the preparations for storming the camp or a tightening of the siege to force them to surrender.

Thousands of Palestinian refugees are also trapped inside.
About 22 militants, 32 soldiers and 27 civilians have been killed in what is the worst internal violence since the 1975-1990 civil war.

Around 15,000 people are still in Nahr el-Bared refugee camp, home to some 40,000 before it came under heavy army shelling this week.