THE TERRORIST THREAT TO US PERSONNEL IN BEIRUT

Created: 1/12/1984

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

ia Involved?

Radical Lebanese Shias and ant.-Arafat based in the Bekaa valley and southern Beirut, primary elements of an emerging terrorist network Shia extremist groups, auch aa Islamic Anal, the Husayni Suicide Porces, and the Muslim Studentscommitted to the goal of replacing theGovernment with an Xran-atyle islamic republic. totaling as manyview theas President Amin Geaayel'a principal supporters,their Immediate objective ie to force tniTTrtrr out

These Shia and Palestinian groupa, as well as their Iranian Syrian sponsors, almost certainly believe that the bombing at

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HOFORN NOCONTRACT ORCON

the Marine compound In October has influenced US public opinion and put pressure on US policymakers to withdraw from Lebanon. They are therefore convinced that an intensifying campaign of terrorist violence against the HHP will advance their ohjective. Tfll

Shia extreaiats are increasingly willing to sacrifice their lives, in attack* on the.MNP. Confident that .they are serving the