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PLO Military Strength in Lebanon Restored to Its Pre-1982 Level

January 27, 1987
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Almost five years after the Lebanon war, the military strength of the Palestine Liberation Organization in Lebanon has been restored to almost the same level as it was when the Israel Defense Force invaded that country in June 1982, a senior military officer told an audience in Tel Aviv Monday.

The officer, who holds the rank of Lt. Colonel but was not identified by name, said PLO terrorists were returning to their old bases in Sidon and Tyre and their presence can be felt by the increased incidence of attempted attacks on Israel.

The officer noted that Sidon and Tyre, on the Lebanese coast, provide the terrorists with bases for night attacks on Israel by sea. So far, the Israel Navy has successfully aborted such attacks, he said. But the sea cannot be totally sealed off.

He proposed that Israel initiate a strong international maritime intelligence force to interdict sea-borne terrorists and saboteurs. He said Israel could contribute considerable experience to such an undertaking.

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