Israeli strike tests Mid east peace bid
NZPA-Reuter Beirut Moves to defuse conflict in and around Lebanon faced a new test yesterday after Israeli planes attacked Palestinian targets and were greeted by SAM-9 missiles. The Israeli strike on Thursday around Damour, south of Beirut, came one day after United States peace envoy, Mr Philip Habib, had left the Middle East. The Israeli Air Force hat mounted no attacks in Le banon during -Mr Habib’: . mission. The air strike also coin' cided with talks between the Lebanese and Syrian Foreigr. Ministers aimed at convening an inter-Arab committee to discuss ending Lebanon’s internal conflicts. Lebanese State Radio said that at least 25 people had
been killed or wounded when Israeli jets dropped bombs and rockets on Damour and nearby Na’meh in three hours of attacks. A radical Palestinian commando group, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine General Command, said that the raids had been aimed at its positions, but had missed targets. The front admitted suffering two. dead and three wounded. .Palestinian' sources said that the front, which has close links with Syria and Libya, had fired SAM-9 missiles at the attacking planes. But there was no confirmation in Beirut that Libyan soldiers had manned the SAM-9 batteries, as was reported by an Israeli military spokesman. Political sources said that it remained to be seen
whether the Israeli strike would disrupt Mr Habib’s mission, which is due to resume next week, or Arab moves to tackle Lebanon’s domestic troubles. The Syrian Foreign Minister,and Mr Abdel-Halim Khaddam, the Lebanese Foreign Minister, Mr Fuad Butros, conferred on Thursday in the Bekka town of, Shtoura. Mr Khaddam said later that they would approach Saudi ' Arabia, Kuwait, and the Arab League, which together with Syria and Lebanon make up a so-called follow-up committee on the Lebanese problem which has been dormant since last year. He said that the aim was 'to revive the committee at foreign-minister level in the near future.
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Press, 30 May 1981, Page 8
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327Israeli strike tests Mid east peace bid Press, 30 May 1981, Page 8
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