The World - News from April 10, 1989

Syrian and allied Druze gunners shelled Christian-held regions north of Beirut, prolonging their defiance of an Arab League call for a cease-fire. Lebanese police said the sporadic artillery fire near the port of Juniyah “appears to be a message to France in advance of the arrival of two of its ships sent with fuel, food and medical supplies to the Christians.” But Druze warlord Walid Jumblatt claimed that the French vessels are of “a military nature.” No damage was reported in Juniyah, the Christian forces’ only outlet to the sea. The Christian forces have been fighting a Muslim alliance of 40,000 Syrian soldiers and 7,000 Druze militia members.