Syrian sources expect expanded military operation in Lebanon by Israel

Syrian diplomatic sources Saturday told ArabicNews.com that "Damascus has confirmed information about Israel's getting ready to make an expanded military operation in Lebanon."

The sources added that French diplomacy and US officials are to make a joint initiative in Tel Aviv, Beirut and Damascus to ask the parties to exercise self-control and hold a meeting for the April Understanding monitoring group.

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa conveyed three days ago a message from Syrian President Hafez al-Assad to French President Jacques Chirac, who phoned US President Bill Clinton.

The sources said, "The pivot of these communications was the status in south Lebanon, because Damascus is convinced that Israel will resort to an expanded operation" that may include striking at the Lebanese infrastructure and attacking the Syrian forces working in Lebanon.