Israeli military sources confirmed last night reports that some 600-800 Syrian troops have entered Lebanon and have taken up positions at three sites along the Damascus-Beirut road near the Syrian border.
The Syrian force, which is not disguised as Al Saiqa terrorists as previously, is made up mostly of infantry men along with armored troops and mortar carriers. Reports by foreign news agencies that Syrian tanks took up positions in Lebanon and then returned to Syria could not be confirmed here.
Israeli sources also said that other Syrian units have been concentrated near the Lebanese border should the present pressure on Moslem leftists to maintain the cease-fire be insufficient. Ninety members of the Lebanese Parliament met yesterday and approved an amendment to the Constitution making possible the selection of a successor to President Sulieman Frahjieh.
While Israeli sources admit that entry of the Syrian army troops into Lebanon has escalated the situation, they stress that there is no reason as yet for Israeli intervention, but a close watch is being kept on events on the northern border. They note the Syrian force is small and is not in any area near the Israeli border. Israeli sources credit this to Syria’s fear of Israeli intervention.
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