Lebanese sources deny presence of Syrian troops in Lebanon

Middle East News

Sep 16, 2008, 15:36 GMT

Beirut - Reports that Syrian troops crossed into northern Lebanon and took up positions in seven villages were denied by Lebanese security sources Tuesday. 'The reports are not true,' one of the sources said, dismissing the report from the Israel-based DEBKAfile website known for its headline-grabbing claims. The website spoke of a Syrian 'invasion' of Lebanon by two Syrian commando battalions backed by reconnaissance and engineering units. After a 30-year military presence in Lebanon, Syrian troops pulled out of the country in 2005, following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, which many in Lebanon blamed on Damascus. The website reported on September 13 that the Syrian commandos took up positions in villages inhabited by pro-Syrian Alawites. An offshoot of Shia Islam, the Alawites in Lebanon back the country's opposition, led by the Shiite Islamist party Hezbollah.

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Lebanese sources deny presence of Syrian troops in Lebanon

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