Threat grows of second front in Lebanon

The Israeli army and the Lebanese-based guerrilla group Hizbullah exchanged fire yesterday as Israeli-Arab relations deteriorated significantly amid fears that a second front could be opened in the Middle East conflict.

The Syrian president, Bashar Assad, yesterday announced the redeployment of 20,000 Syrian troops in Lebanon. British Foreign Office sources said the move could be interpreted either as a sign that Mr Assad was anxious to avoid conflict or, more ominously, that it was contingency planning.

Israel launched air strikes against Syrian military positions twice last year in retaliation for Hizbullah attacks. Syria is one of the main sponsors of Hizbullah.

Witnesses said more than 100 trucks full of Syrian soldiers began moving into Lebanon's Bekaa valley near the Syrian border from positions further west. The operation is expected to be completed within a week.

The United Nations general assembly yesterday held an emergency session on the Middle East crisis at the request of Arab countries.

The increasingly strained relationship between Israel and even moderate Arab countries was highlighted yesterday when Egypt announced it was to suspend diplomatic contacts. Egypt said it would only maintain diplomatic contacts which could directly help Palestinians.

The Egyptian move is mainly symbolic and the real danger for Israel lies along the Lebanese border. Hizbullah is a disciplined and well-equipped force compared with the Palestinians.

Hizbullah yesterday engaged Israeli troops in the disputed Shaaba Farms area near the Golan Heights where the Israeli, Lebanese and Syrian borders converge. In the second such attack in two days, Hizbullah fired three anti-tank rockets at Israeli positions. The Israeli air force attacked positions in the Lebanese village of Shaaba.

Israeli-Hizbullah encounters are regular but Israeli fears that Hizbullah may be planning a serious offensive have increased because of a new development in recent days: an apparent Hizbullah rocket attack on Israel. Hizbullah has denied responsibility.

The Lebanese government, still recovering from the ravages of its own civil war, yesterday pleaded with Hizbullah not to open up a second front against Israel. But the Lebanese government has little control over Hizbullah.

Israel warned on Tuesday that the opening of a second front by Hizbullah would have "alarming consequences".

The US, echoing Israeli concerns, has also turned the focus on Syria. The US defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, on Monday accused Syria and Iran of funnelling arms to Lebanon for use by Hizbullah. The US has reportedly blocked a proposed European arms sale to Syria.

Thousands of Syrian troops have been in Lebanon since intervening in 1976 to quell a civil war that ended in 1990. Mr Assad said last year that he would begin withdrawing his troops.

The latest redeployments were presented by Syria and Lebanon yesterday as part of internal arrangements unconnected with Israel.

Mr Assad, who took power after the death of his father two years ago, faces a huge task in trying to reform Syria's economy and would not welcome involvement in a war with Israel. He lost face by failing to respond to two previous Israeli strikes. Vested interests in Syria, including army officers, will be pressing Mr Assad to make some response to any Israeli strikes.