REMOVAL OF TWA PASSENGERS FROM AIRCRAFT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87T00434R000300240030-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 30, 2010
• Sequence Number: 30
• Publication Date: June 17, 1985
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/30: CIA-RDP87T00434R000300240030-6
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
17 June 1985
0400 EDT
SPOT COMMENTARY: Removal of TWA Passengers from Aircraft
the hostages may
have been removed from the aircraft and en to an undisclosed
location early this morning. Observers on the heights overlooking
the airport have also noted little activity around the plane
since 0300 local time.
-- If this information is accurate, it may be that the
hijackers moved the hostages out of the airport area
because they feared a rescue attempt by American or
Israeli commandos. They probably viewed the airport,
which is located in a large open area adjacent to the
coast, as vulnerable to attack.
-- If all of the hostages are now in fact being held
somewhere in West Beirut or the southern suburbs,
it almost certainly Will complicate efforts tc
secure their release. The longer they are held
in these Shia neighborhoods, the greater the
likelihood that even more radical Hizballah elements
will attempt to seize or assassinate them.
-- While Amal militiamen loyal to Nabih Barri nominally
control much of the southern suburbs area, Hizballah
extremists operate virtually at will in many
neighborhoods.
Prepared by:
NESA/AI/L
OCPAS/Ops Ctr,
25X1
25X1
25X1
:25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/30: CIA-RDP87T00434R000300240030-6