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As it became plain that the U. S. could not bring stability to Lebanon, President Reagan's administration decided to move the Marines gradually to the Sixth Fleet offshore and step up the U.S. Warships firing on rebel and Syrian positions around Beirut. On February 7, the White House announced the stepped-up redeployment and the next day the battleship New Jersey opened up with a massive bombardment of Syrian targets east of Beirut to enhance the safety of the Marines. The Marines were glad to leave for home, but their withdrawal triggered fierce fighting involving Shiite and Druse militiamen, Christians and Phalangists who massacred scores of civilians. |
