Syrian forces positioned in Lebanon since the 1975 Lebanese civil war will commence a major redeployment toward the Syrian-Lebanese border Tuesday, and Syrian and U.S. troops will partake in joint security operations along the Syrian-Iraqi border, official sources in Damascus told United Press International Monday. "This is official," said Imad Mustapha, Syria's ambassador to Washington, speaking from Damascus. "Tuesday morning there will be a major redeployment of Syrian forces in Lebanon toward the border," he said in a telephone conversation.
The ambassador also confirmed earlier reports of joint U.S.-Syrian military cooperation intended to thwart terrorist operations in Iraq. Mustapha is in Damascus for consultations before returning to the United States with Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk Sharaa where they will attend the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York later this week. Sharaa is also scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Mustapha said. The Syrian diplomat told United Press International the military redeployment -- a long-standing demand by the United States -- came about as a result of "Syria having greater confidence in the situation." |