ABSTRACT
A Syrian action previous to the renewal of Syrian-Christian hostilities was the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with the Soviet Union on October 8, 1980. In the town itself the Syrians maintained only a limited military force which helped the internal Lebanese security forces in keeping law and order. Following the attack on the headquarters of the National Liberal Party, the Syrians brought armed and mounted convoys into the main streets of Zahle in order to put an end to resistance and restore order. Once the Christian militias had achieved their aim of drawing Israel and Syria into a mutual confrontation, they quickly softened their attitude toward Syria and participated in the political efforts to solve the problem of Zahle. As for Zahle, a relative peace was maintained there even at the time of the stormy events of the Peace for Galilee operation.
