Its objective is to open the strategic Straits Hormuz, through which large • amounts of Japanese and European oil produced oil companies Irals Doricu The danger of the closure of the Straits stems Iraq's utiise its Super etendard planes and Exocet missiles attack shipping in the Gulf, and to destroy the Iranian oil terminal Karg Island. In retaliation the Iranians say they will close the Straits, which the Americans have vowed to keep open.
Neither the Iranian or Iraqi workers have anything to gain from this senseless war. Hundreds dinousands nave ace or nothing. But socialists should completely oppose any attempt by the United States, or other imperialist powers intervene against Iran. Khomeini and the reactionary social order he represents have to nian workers. Imperialist will only set back that process. Special free book offer!
Take out a years inland subscription and we will send you free one of these books:
Thatcher and Friends by John Ross Hard Times by Bob Sutcliffe or Over our Dead Bodies Women Against the Bomb Introductory offer for new readers: Eight issues for just £2! hold out for long. army, and the militias of the Christian Phalange have suffered hands of the Druze Progressive Socialist Party' and the Muslim Shi'ite movement Amal. After the army's offensive around the offensive opening up a corridor between the Chouf mountains and Beirut - thus cutting the country in two.
In subsequent offenhuge tract of territory has been liberated from the army and the Phalange. In the areas liberated Ine reactionary forces, gory evidence of Phalange massacres come light.
With the army in state of near-collapse the Druze and Shi'ite militias are now poised for a final assaull on souk al-varo, the final outpost of the Phalangist Chouf mountains The anti-Phalangist victories mark a decisive turnround in the political situation in Lebanon, forcing the reactionary Christian forces onto the defensive. The United States' policy in Lebanon - that of trying to create a strong Phalangist government is now in complete disarBut this by no means signifies that imperialism given up in the region.
the first place the United States powerful task force remains in place off the Lebanese coast despite troop withdrawal. But the main danger of a pro-imperialist attack in Lebanon is now the possibility substantial Israeli intervention into the conOver the past two weeks his a devastating defeat at the southern suburbs of flict Despite the fact that Israeli relations with Amin Gemavel have been strained in recent months, the Israelis understand that there is a major danger facing them if a Muslimdominated state is created in Lebanon namely that units of the PLO will once again utilise allack saes northern border.
Already the Israelis have launched air strikes against Druze forces anc alleged Palestinian posiLIULIS While LIle Druze PSP have denied that the postions attacked were in Tact neia dy r alestinians, 11 known that small detachments from the pro Syrian PLO 'dissidents' have taken fighting against the Phalangists and army.
During the past week the United States Saudi Arabia have been putting diploscheme try salvage something for Gemayel and the Phalange from the wreckage of the battlefield. But they have come up against the basic reality of the new relationnothing will now work without the agreement of the Syrians, who maintain a 30,000 strong army in the and their Druze and Shiite allies Now that Amin Gemayel has been forced abandon his 'troops withdrawal' peace treaty June government has decided to maintain its occupation of southern indefinitely. Several hundred thousand Shi'ite Muslims in that area now under the iron heel of the Israeli occupallull force, which is the target of daily attacks. Israel will doubtless south USC Lebanon enclave as a base attack anti-Phalangist forces.
The crucial question now facing is whether the United States and Israel are prepared to live with the defeat which they have suffered. If not, then the only result will be new and bloody fighting.
----- pull-quotes -----
Beirut had been thrown back, the Muslim forces liberated West Beirut, while the Druze launched an