Word: gharb
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Thus last week the symbol of this ancient and hopelessly intricate struggle became the hill town of Suq al Gharb. Here the Druze, having already virtually driven the Christian militiamen out of the mountains, hoped also to hold off the army of the Christian-led government. Here the Syrians hoped to weaken the Gemayel government, and here the Palestinians hoped to win a victory and perhaps a chance to return to West Beirut. The government and its army knew that they must make a stand. At midweek Gemayel, who has been slow in his efforts to broaden his political base...
...Reagan Administration Suq al Gharb had become the key position of the "red line," the frontier beyond which the Druze and their allies could not sbe allowed to pass. For several weeks Special Envoy McFarlane had been pressing the Administration to broaden the Marines' role in Lebanon. At the time of the Israeli withdrawal in early September, McFarlane had proposed that Marines be used to take over certain military positions in the Chouf. He also sought permission to move the Marines into the Chouf as part of a cease-fire offer. In a rare display of agreement, Secretary of State...
...somehow be given a stronger hand in order to bolster the Gemayel government. Last week, while sticking to the pretense that its ultimate aim was to protect the lives of U.S. military personnel on the ground, the Administration ordered the naval guns to attack Druze positions around Suq al Gharb. In so doing, the U.S. provided crucial help to the embattled Lebanese Army...
...China last week, Weinberger told reporters that the Lebanese armed forces were doing well and that the Marines were not fighting in their behalf. He continued: "There is one exception, and that is the village of Suq al Gharb, which we are determined should not fall into hostile hands." The reason for this "forward defense," he said, was to protect Marine positions around the airport. Under existing rules, the Marines are not permitted to return fire into a village or occupied area. But that rule has been rescinded, Weinberger added, in the case of Suq al Gharb...
During those periods last week when a cease-fire appeared to be at hand, some observers speculated that U.S. naval support of the Lebanese Army at Suq al Gharb might have convinced Assad that a simple military victory by his allies was not in the offing, and thus it would be more advantageous for Syria to accept a ceasefire. Others speculated that Gemayel had for a time been so impressed with the ability of his army that he thought it was now strong enough to push back the Druze, Syrian and Palestinian forces in the Chouf. According to this theory...