Units of the South Lebanon Army (SLA), accompanied by a detachment of Israel Defense Force soldiers, blew up two houses and detained scores of residents of the Shiite Moslem villages of Majdal Selim and Ata Marir in the south Lebanon security zone today.
The action is believed to have been taken because of several attacks on SLA units in the Majdal Selim region during the past week, after the IDF dismantled its positions there. According to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the SLA and IDF units entered the village with tanks and armored personnel carriers early this morning and conducted an extensive round-up.
Soldiers of a Ghanaian contingent of UNIFIL observed the operation but did not intervene. The search of Ata Marir was announced later by the SLA.
Observers say the recent escalation of attacks on the SLA and IDF in the security zone is the work primarily of Shiite Moslems. According to these observers, the Shiite militia, Amal is trying to assert itself in face of charges by Palestinians that it is cooperating with the Israelis. The IDF is expected to be completely out of Lebanon by June 6, the third anniversary of its invasion of that country.
Two terrorists who attempted to attack the local militia leader in the south Lebanon village of Inata near the Israel border, were killed by SLA soldiers yesterday.
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