Kindgo
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6/16 Washington Post: Possible attack into Israeli territory within next several days Hezbollah Buildup in Lebanon Cited
New Weapons and Troops Stir Fears of Mideast 'Second Front'
By Karen DeYoung Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, June 15, 2002; Page A17
The Iranian- and Syrian-backed group Hezbollah has built up forces along Lebanon's southern border with Israel, while humanitarian conditions inside Palestinian territories have deteriorated rapidly, diplomatic sources here said yesterday.
Sources said signs of a variety of new weaponry, including missiles capable of reaching major northern Israeli population centers and of shooting down planes, have been detected along the border in recent weeks, together with the increased presence and activity of Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. There was concern an attack into Israeli territory could be launched within the next several days.
Of equal concern, sources said, was the likelihood of massive Israeli retaliation, including movement into Lebanese and possibly Syrian territory. Although Israel has frequently alleged such escalation in the two years since its military forces withdrew from southern Lebanon, a new round of Israeli reports has now coincided with information collected by other observers in the region, they said.
State Department spokesman Greg Sullivan said a round of U.S. warnings had been delivered "in recent days" to the governments of Syria, Iran and Lebanon in response to intelligence reports provided by Israel, including some during Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's White House meeting last Monday with President Bush. But while "we have seen an escalation," he said, the administration was not prepared to characterize the threat as imminent.
The opening of a "second front" in the Middle East is viewed by most governments involved in the region as likely to spell the end of U.S.-led efforts to organize a political dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians... ______________________ Read the complete article at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...-2002Jun14.html
-------------------- God bless, Kindgo
Inside the will of God there is no failure. Outside the will of God there is no success.
Posts: 4320 | From: Sunny Florida | Registered: Jun 2002
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