Lebanon's President Lahoud will travel to Damascus Tuesday for summit talks with President Assad to coordinate a joint stance against Israel's escalating threats to Lebanon and Syria.
It will be Lahoud's first state visit to Syria since Bashar al Assad took over the reins of power in July of 2000.
The planned summit was disclosed by a communiqué from Lahoud's palace Sunday evening. Beirut newspaper reported Monday morning that talks would largely focus on Israel's threats that were lately dramatized by massive military maneuvers along the border with Lebanon and in Syria's occupied Golan Heights.
On Sunday, the Israeli Army Chief of Staff, Moshe Ya'alon lashed out at Syria for supporting Palestinian groups and Hizbullah, hinting Israel might again attack targets in Syria - as it did last month - if Damascus does not desist from providing this support.
"If Syria ignores the messages Israel has sent it, it may be necessary to send additional messages," Lieutenant General Ya'alon said during a lecture at Tel Aviv University. "As long as the command headquarters of the Palestinian terror organizations in Damascus continue to operate and Syria allows terror to be conducted against Israel from Lebanon, Syria will bear responsibility for this and Lebanon will suffer disquiet," he added. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
