BEIRUT CORE EAC MEETING MAY 18, 2008 (1930 EST)

S E C R E T BEIRUT 000717 SIPDIS STATE FOR DS/CC; DS/DSS/ITA; DS/IP/NEA; NEA/EX POSTS FOR RSO; S/ES E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2018 TAGS: CASC ASEC PTER MOPS LE SY SUBJECT: BEIRUT CORE EAC MEETING MAY 18, 2008 (1930 EST) REF: BEIRUT 709 Classified By: CDA Michele J. Sison for reason 1.4 (b) and (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) At 1930 local time (1230 EST) on May 18, 2008, CDA Sison convened a meeting of the Core Emergency Action Committee to discuss the current situation and review the "reverse tripwires" reported in reftel which will be used to consider if and when the Embassy Beirut Logistical Support Missions (EBLSM) from Cyprus should be discontinued. A/DCM, A/RSO, DATT, and D/RAO were present. At this time, most of the reverse trip wires have been achieved. The only exception is an assessment of the situation inside Beirut International Airport terminal with respect to any overt or aggressive Hizballah presence. End Summary. Security Situation -------------- ¶2. (C) Political attention remains focused on the Arab League-led discussions in Doha, Qatar. Embassy Beirut will continue to monitor these negotiations and the impact of discussions on the current security situation in Lebanon. Although we do not expect any breakdown in the talks there to cause Hizballah to reinstall its blockades, we cannot rule out this possibility. ¶3. (C) Greater Beirut and other areas of Lebanon are quiet today. We have had no reports of armed clashes. Reverse Tripwires -------------- ¶4. (S) We have received GOL diplomatic clearance for EBLSM through Monday, May 19. ¶5. (S) DAO and RSO each have conducted security assessment of the main north-south access road to Beirut International Airport as well as one alternate route over the past three days. Both roads are now completely clear of debris and Hizballah barricades. The only checkpoint remaining is the LAF checkpoint that existed prior to May 7. ¶6. (S) Per the reverse tripwires listed in our previous EAC cable (reftel),only one tripwire remains unachieved: "No overt and aggressive Hizballah presence near or inside the BIA terminal." Although there appears to be no overt Hizballah presence near the airport, we have not yet been able to verify inside the terminal. RSO will conduct an assessment inside the terminal on May 19. ¶7. (S) Embassy recommendation at this time is to maintain the EBLSM scheduled for May 19. We understand the logistical planning needs outlined by EUCOM colleagues and will provide an update following the RSO assessment of the terminal on May ¶19. SISON