SYRIAN ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST TERRORISM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00363R001202830053-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 19, 2007
• Sequence Number: 53
• Publication Date: July 7, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/11/19: CIA-RDP85M00363R001202830053-2
ROUTING 'AND TRANSMITTAL SLIP
TO: (Name, office symbol, room number,
building, Agency/Post)
1. C/IIC/OGI
2. DD/OGI
3. D/OGI
4. DDI
ODCI, 7E60
File
For Clearance
For Correction
For Your Information
Investigate
Justify
Note and Return
Prepare Reply
Appended talking points for DCI use in
breakfast with Secretary Weinberger 8 July.
Secretary Weinberger will ask DCI support for
following US initiatives to curb Middle East
pproval
Requested
irculate
mment
Coordination
REMARKS
terrorism involving Syria:
-- Public US denunciation of central
Syrian role in Middle East terrorism.
DO NOT use this form as a RECORD of approvals, concurrences, disposals,
clearances, and similar actions
Proscribed by GSA
* U.S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1979-281-18411 FPMR (41 CFR) 101-11.206
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D L1 1. i[L. 1
7 July 1983
Syrian Role in Middle East Terrorism
I. Syria is playing a central role in Middle East
terrorism.
-- The Assad regime has a long history of using
terrorism to retain power and strengthen influence
in the Middle East.
-- We can count over 30 assassinations, bombings and
attempted attacks in the Middle East and Europe
since early 1980.
-- The present Syrian campaign is aimed at undermining
and intimidating Arab, Palestinian, and Western
opponents of Syrian policy toward Israel;
particularly those who support the.Lebanese troop
withdrawal agreement.
II. evidence of Syrian involvement in
attacks and planned operations against US nationals and
facilities.
-- Still inconclusive and preliminary evidence points
to involvement by Syrian intelligence in the bombing
of the US Embassy in Beirut in April.
25X1
GJ/~ I
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reports that Arafat believes the
Syrians were involved in two small-scale bombings of
private American concerns in Amman in early May.
report Syrian involvement in
terrorist plans to attack US diplamtic facilities in
Beirut and Baghdad and unspecified American targets
in Amman, Istanbul and Saudi Arabia.
We believe Syrian plans to attack the US Embassy in
Kuwait were shelved, perhaps because of a US
diplomatic representation in Damascus.
We also have reason to suspect Syrian involvement in
earlier assassinations of Bashir Gemayel in late
1982 and prominent PLO moderate Isaam Sartawi in
April 1983.
III. Growing Syrian influence among anti-Arafat
Palestinians is a worrisome development.
-- This opens the PLO to anti-US influences including
Libya, Iran and radical Palestinian groups.
reports that Syria has put together a
terrorist network with headquarters in Damascus and
the Bekaa Valley, and training facilities in Syria
to conduct operations in the Middle East.
Under Syrian auspices, such radical groups as Black
June, PFLP-General Command and various Lebanese
leftists are collaborating operationally.
2
SECRET
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