Syria troops buildup along Lebanon border

[joeblow]

Syria troops buildup along Lebanon border
Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:32:39 GMT

http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=7 ... =351020206




Syrian soldiers

Syria once again builds up troops near the Lebanese frontiers, positioning soldiers and artillery off the Arida border with north Lebanon.

The entire fourth division of the Syrian army, under Maher al-Assad, were deployed to the area known as Shatt el-Arab on the northern coastal strip, only three kilometers (1.8 miles) from Arida, Al-Markazia news agency reported.

The report, however, did not say when the deployment took place.

The first Syrian buildup of 10,000 troops along Lebanon's northern border was reported on September 21.

In October, Syria increased the number of its troops, positioning tanks on the border facing Lebanon's Bekaa valley.

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman contacted his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad at the time to inquire about the troop buildup, which had raised fears of a possible Syrian intervention in Lebanon.

President al-Assad told his Lebanese counterpart that the deployment was aimed at fighting smugglers and crime along the border shared by the two countries.

MP/MMN