Southern Region of Lebanon Virtually Taken over by Terrorists

Lebanese villagers along the Israeli borders have told Israelis that the southern region of their country has been virtually taken over by terrorists while the civil war between Moslems and Christians rages in the north. The central government in Beirut seems to have lost all control–or interest–in the southern region, they said. Police, gendarmerie and other government officials in the region have not been paid for months and the local judicial system has broken down.

They said that’ terrorists have taken over some Lebanese army positions that were abandoned when the troops were transferred to the area of fighting around Beirut and that certain Syrian controlled terrorists were entrenched in southeastern Lebanon known as Fatahland. Some villagers claimed that Syrian soldiers disguised as terrorists have been stationed inside Lebanon.

Israeli circles, meanwhile, have confirmed receiving reports that a number of units of the Palestine Liberation Army under Syrian command have been sent into Lebanon. So far there have been no reports of their intervention in the fighting but they are in a position to aid left-wing and terrorist elements. The Syrian-controlled forces were identified as the Hittin and Kabbasiyeh battalions of the PLA.

PERES WARNS SYRIA

Although there is no evidence so far that Syrian regulars have entered Lebanon. Defense Minister Shimon Peres warned Syria last night not to intervene in Lebanon’s civil strife. Addressing graduating army officers, Peres said “If any foreign army intervenes in the Lebanese fighting Israel will be forced to take the necessary defensive measures to ensure its security and I want Syria to understand this.”

The description of conditions in southern Lebanon came from Lebanese farmers who tend their crops close to the Israeli border near Metullah. They expressed fear that the civil war might spread to the south endangering the small Mennonite Christian community there which has taken refuge in Christian-dominated villages.

Other sources, mainly UN observers and clergy who have reached Israel via the Rosh Hanikra border post on the coast, reported that the road from Beirut to the Israeli border was unsafe for travel. They reported explosions and automatic fire along the highway. The UN observers have shifted their headquarters from Lebanon to Israel because of the fighting.

In Beirut itself, widespread pillaging was reported in broad daylight under cover of the fighting. According to one report, an armed gang entered the Beirut port area and made off with 300 Mercedes cars unloaded from a freighter a few days before.