SHIA MILITIA FIGHTING IN WEST BEIRUT: ADVANTAGE HIZBALLAH?

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP06T00412R000707380022-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 28, 2013
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: May 12, 1988
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/10/28:
CIA-R
WO6T00412R000707380022-2
TRANSMFTALSUP
DATE
11 May VI
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/10/28: CIA-RDP06T00412R000707380022-2
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Talking Points for DCI Meeting with NSC Principals
12 May 1988
Shia Militia Fighting in West Beirut: Advantage Hizballah?
The pro-Iranian Shia militia, Hizballah, is winning in intense
streetfighting with its pro-Syrian Shia rival, Amal, in West Beirut.
The clashes are undercutting Amal's recent victory over Hizballah in
southern Lebanon, and may force Amal to send more troops from there
to Beirut. Syrian officials in Beirut claim that Damascus is ready
to intervene to restore order.
The fighting--marked by numerous short-lived ceasefires--has
favored Hizballah. If the current trend continues, Hizballah's gains
could force the Syrians to move to control the southern suburbs.
--The fighting shows no sign of abating, and Hizballah has
repulsed several Amal attempts to regain lost territory.
--Amal reportedly is moving fighters from south Lebanon to
West Beirut.
The Syrian Angle--Critical
The Syrians want to prevent the confrontation from spreading to
the Syrian-occupied Bekaa Valley, but will use their own military
forces only as a last resort, in our view. Nevertheless, press
statements from senior Syrian officials indicate that Syria is ready
to restore order in West Beirut.
--In February 1987 the Syrians did intervene to prevent
Amal's defeat by West Beirut militias in widespread
streetfighting.
Syria has several thousand soldiers already in West Beirut, and
many more located nearby.
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The entry of Syrian forces into the southern suburbs would have
important consequences.
--A crackdown against Hizballah would exacerbate frictions
in Syrian-Iranian relations.
--We believe that the Western hostages are still in the
southern suburbs, and will be increasingly at risk if the
clashes escalate or Syria intervenes.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/10/28 : CIA-RDP06T00412R000707380022-2
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/10/28: CIA-RDP06T00412R000707380022-2
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SUBJECT: Shia Militia Fighting in West Beirut:
Hizballah?
Distribution:
Advantage
4
- DIR/DCl/DDCI Exec
Staff
1
- DDI
1
- ADDI
1
- NIO/NESA
1
- D/NESA
1
- DD/NESA
1
- C/NESA/AI
1
- C/NESA/AI/L
1
- NESA/AI/L/Chrono
1
- NESA/AI/Lj
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DI/NESA/AI/L
2
11 May 88
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/10/28: CIA-RDP06T00412R000707380022-2
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/10/28: CIA-RDP06T00412R000707380022-2
Mediterranean
Shata
Sabra
Mediterranean
Sea
^ Inter-Shia
fighting
Hizballah
strongholds
Palestinian refugee
camp boundary
O 1, Kilometer
O 1 Mile
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/10/28: CIA-RDP06T00412R000707380022-2