The Lebanese Army has redeployed its forces away from the Israeli border and is concentrating them in the so-called Fatahland salient which has reportedly been invaded by terrorist forces from Syria. Israeli officials had, no comment today on reports from Western sources that Israel was massing troops on the Lebanese border.
The Golani infantry brigade was acknowledged to be carrying out maneuvers on the Golan Heights, but these were described as the annual war ga?es and there were no indications from official sources that they had anything to do with events in Lebanon.
Israel has been keeping a close watch on the Lebanese situation. Defense Minister Moshe Dayan said yesterday that if developments in Lebanon appeared to endanger Israel’s security, Israel would feel free to act.
According to press reports, a heavily armed force of Palestinian guerrillas crossed from Syria into the mountainous Rasheiya region of southeastern Lebanon and have attacked Lebanese Army positions in a string of military outposts leading southward toward the Israeli line. Lebanese jets were reportedly in action against the invaders. Lebanese Army camps and positions along the Israeli border were almost deserted today. Only a number of local police were seen manning the positions.
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