Thursday, February 20, 2003
Syrian forces begin withdrawing from north Lebanese positions
Associated Press Beirut, February 20
Syrian forces dismantled bases and began heading out of northern Lebanese areas after more than 26 years of controlling a region considered crucial to Syria's national security, witnesses said on Thursday.
Military trucks and other vehicles, including trailers carrying tanks and armoured personnel carries, regrouped near the coastal town of Batroun 45 km north of Beirut, and began heading north, the witnesses said.
A total of 21 trucks were seen headed toward the border this morning, the witnesses said on condition of anonymity. They added that Syrian soldiers were spotted at some positions loading ammunition and hardware on military trucks. Some positions were abandoned by last night.
It was not clear whether all the withdrawing troops would return to Syria, and when, or if troops would be re-stationed in other bases further north or in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon.
The military redeployment was not expected to ease Syria's continued dominance of Lebanese politics, but the move was interpreted as being influenced by rising regional tensions because of the US threat to attack Iraq, Syria's neighbour to the east.
However, military analysts said that given the small numbers involved in the Lebanon withdrawal it is unlikely they would be of military significance in any possible Syrian planning to strengthen its troop presence along the long border with Iraq in the event of war.
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