MONTHLY REPORT--JORDAN BUREAU--JULY 1983

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00040R000100220005-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 19, 2008
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: August 4, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2008/03/19: CIA-RDP86-00040R000100220005-6
C 0 N F I D E N T I A
4 August 1983
MJN 8319
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH: Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT: Monthly Report--Jordan Bureau--July 1983
The latter half of the month brought a sharp upturn in the
level of fighting in the nearly 3-year-old Iran-Iraq war, which
had continued at a desultory pace for the past several weeks.
On 23 July Iran launched another offensive against Iraq, this
time in the Haj Umran area of northern Iraq, a mountainous Kurdish
area. Iraqi media made a point of mentioning Kurdish participation
in the fighting alongside Iraqi forces. The Iraqis claimed to
have defeated the offensive a few days later. Iran launched yet
another offensive on 30 July in the Mehran area, but the Iraqis,
who had been expecting an attack in the ral sector, claimed
to have crushed that offensive as well. ~ent 25X1
The rebellion among Fatah dissidents in Lebanon, which
erupted in May, continued throughout the month with numerous
reports of fighting between those loyal to PLO chairman Yasir
'Arafat and the dissidents. Syrian backing for the Fatah dissi-
dents and for opposition elements within Lebanon, as well as
reportage on mediation efforts within the Arah world. generated
a large volume of copy throughout the month.
On 26 July masked gunmen burst into the Islamic College
in the already, tense West Bank town of Hebron. Three Arab students
were killed and 33 others wounded in the machinegun and grenade
attack. The reaction in the occupied West Bank was immediate
and violent, and a UN Security Council debate on the situation
was called for by the Arabs. The possibility of local reaction
to the expected U.S. veto of any Security Council resolution on
the West Bank raised concerns for the security of the Embassy
and its personnel in Amman. While the enhanced security remains
in effect, there have not been any incidents in Amman to date.
25X1
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A. Lateral Services
Bureau transcripts of Jordan radio reporting on the
Hebron incident were of particular interest to the Embassy
following a complaint from Tel Aviv that the radio was "embel-
lishing" its reports with allegations of Israeli government
and IDF support for the gunmen. A protest to Jordan Radio was
considered, but the idea was dropped when a subsequent broadcast
report indicated that this was the official Jordanian government
line, as enunciated by Jordan's representative to the United
Nations.
B. Technical
The Bureau received a new Sony television receiver/
monitor during the month. A VCR is being shipped from London
Bureau to complete the set, which will be used to establish a
second video monitoring position to re occasional scheduling
conflicts with the existing position. 25X1
III. ADMINISTRATION
Personnel
1. Senior monitor and family departed Amman
on PCS transfer to Nicosia Bureau on 14 July.
2. Bureau secretary) (went on LWOP effective
21 July to accom an her husband on PCS transfer. She is re-
placed by who entered on duty on 10 July.
3. Associate editor
received a PSI on 10 July.
4. Three monitor candidates were tested during the month
to fill the vacancy left by the departure of senior monitor
The results of the tests were, substantially below
those of the bureau's most recent recruits.
C O N F I D E N T I A L
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LOA-1
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Page Three
To the Bureau
Mr. Ted Kattouf, newly assigned deputy principal officer
at the U.S. Interest Section, Baghdad, for a briefing on Jordan
Bureau operations en route to his new post.
ATT: Production Report
Approved For Release 2008/03/19: CIA-RDP86-0004OR000100220005-6
 Approved For Release 2008/03/19: CIA-RDP86-0004OR000100220005-6
C 0 N F I D E N T I 1
MJN 8319
Page Three
To the Bureau
Mr. Ted Kattouf, newly assigned deputy principal officer
at the U.S. Interest Section, Baghdad, for a briefing on Jordan
Bureau operations en route to his new post.
ATT: Production Report
Approved For Release 2008/03/19: CIA-RDP86-0004OR000100220005-6