Maj. Sa’ad Haddad, commander of the Christian militia in south Lebanon, has substantiated Israel’s denial of claims by some Lebanese leaders that Israel was building an airstrip in south Lebanon and an anchorage on the coast. Haddad said these projects were indeed undertaken, not by Israel but by his own forces.
He claimed the airstrip was necessary because the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has failed to reopen road connections between north and south Lebanon. According to Haddad, the roads have been controlled by terrorists since Israel’s withdrawal from south Lebanon. He said the airstrip and a small anchorage near Iskandrona village were needed to prevent the isolation of the Christian enclaves.
TERRORISTS REGROUPING IN SOUTH LEBANON
Meanwhile, reports reached here over the weekend that about 600 Arab terrorists equipped with heavy arms and artillery are regrouping in south Lebanon without interference from the UN forces. It was also reported that Syria has permitted the establishment of two terrorist bases on its territory to prepare for incursions against Israel. Terrorists who clashed with Jordanian forces over the weekend are believed to have come from Syria and were en route to Israel.
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