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Beirut is concerned about Syria amassing its military forces on the northern Lebanese-Syrian border, alongside increased Syrian military activity.Damascus has deployed around 10,000 troops along Lebanon's northern border. The increased deployment began over the weekend, the Lebanese daily Al-Mustaqbal reported.Syria maintains it has increased its military presence on the border fort for internal security purposes such as cracking down on smuggling, and that the forces are not directed against Lebanon.However, the extent of the build-up is alarming Beirut, despite a recent thaw in ties between Lebanon and Syria.Syrian President Bashar Assad said last month that Syria was concerned about sectarian clashes in the northern Lebanese town Tripoli. This could explain Syria's deployment on the border, if Damascus fears that clashes will spill over into Syria.However, Elias Hanna, a former Lebanese general, told the Lebanese Daily Star that deploying the army for anti-smuggling activities was an unconvincing explanation as the police and customs usually dealt with combating smuggling, not the army.Lebanon's anti-Syrian bloc is concerned that Syria might be using the clashes in Tripoli as a pretext to reenter Lebanon.In addition to the troop build-up, Syria also conducted a wide-scale military drill on Monday, which was attended by Assad.The exercise underscores Syria's right to defend itself and its land against any hostility, the state-owned SANA news agency reported.Syria withdrew its army from Lebanon in April 2005, ending a 29-year presence in the neighboring country.The withdrawal came following public pressure after the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri two months earlier. Several anti-Syrian politicians and influential figures have since been assassinated and accusing fingers have been pointed towards Damascus.Syria vociferously denies any involvement in these murders.Despite Syria's withdrawal, many say Damascus still holds sway behind the scenes in Lebanon, and has agents operating in the country.By THE MEDIA LINE STAFF
As in the days of Noah...
