Israeli army units conducted a dragnet for terrorists in southern Lebanon last night and returned with four men and a woman suspected of collaboration with terrorist gangs. An army spokesman said the Israeli forces swept through terrorist-controlled territory in the vicinity of the Lebanese villages of Bint Jabil, Ayta A-Shaab and Yarin, One of the suspects was identified as a doctor.
Last night’s operation was the first crossing of the Lebanese frontier by Israeli forces in four months, The region of southeastern Lebanon known as Fatahland has been relatively quiet since last January when Israeli troops carried out a series of search-and-destroy missions aimed against terrorist strongholds.
Meanwhile, military circles have become increasingly concerned over the growing strength of Jordan’s armed forces and the new collaboration between Jordanian and Syrian forces which is a relatively recent development on the Middle East scene, While there has been no information to substantiate a French news agency report that a Syrian force entered Jordan on May 1, military cooperation between Amman and Damascus is known to have reached significant levels.
SYRIA STRENGTHENING GOLAN FORTIFICATIONS
Jordan’s armed forces will be strengthened by new weaponry that includes six batteries of “Hawk” anti-aircraft missiles which the U.S. has agreed to sell Jordan in addition to other arms. The Syrians on their part are strengthening their fortifications along the Golan Heights disengagement lines. They are building new bunkers, tank positions and high earthwork ramps.
These activities are not covered by the disengagement accords and therefore cannot be cited as violations. But they represent a tactical advantage for the huge military force that Syria has deployed just outside of the limited forces zone east of the UN buffer zone, should hostilities break out anew.
Despite the scheduled meeting between President Ford and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in Salzburg, Austria, June 1-2, Israeli military circles have not discounted the possibility of a sudden Egyptian military move in coordination with Syria shortly before June 5, the date set for the official reopening of the Suez Canal. The Egyptians may transfer substantial forces to the eastern shores of the waterway and into the limited forces zone on the pretext of protecting the canal which is presently within artillery range of Israeli positions at the Gidi and Mitle Passes.
Though such a move, in violation of the disengagement agreements, would doubtlessly have serious political repercussions, Israeli circles believe the Egyptians might be encouraged to take the risk at a time when the U.S. is exerting severe diplomatic pressure on Israel. These circles believe that if the Ford Administration continues to hold back arms supplies to Israel, the balance of military power in the Middle East will soon tip in favor of the Arabs.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
