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Beirut Paper Confirms Reports of Guerrilla Build-up in Southern Lebanon Mountains

February 12, 1969
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A Beirut newspaper confirmed Israeli intelligence reports of a massing of guerrilla forces in the mountains of southern Lebanon–information that the Lebanese Government has alleged was false. According to the English-language Daily Star, Palestinian guerrillas from Syria were hiding in frontier caves on the slopes of Mount Hermon and “it would take several thousand troops” to clean them out.

Israeli security officials established precautionary measures recently along the Israel-Lebanon border in response to reports that 500 Arab terrorists were concentrated near the junction of the Israeli, Syrian and Lebanese frontiers. Beirut authorities contended that the Israeli reports were false and were intended to justify “preparation for new aggression” by Israel. Israeli officials said the Arab commandos had improvised bases in largely deserted areas which afford them natural cover for new incursions against Israel.

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