VOL. XXX

NO. 18

9-FEBRUARY-1987

The Middle East Situation

The Gulf war battlefront has remained largely stable, with the Iraqisreported to have regained some of the ground they lost in the sector east ofBasrah. A clear split has emerged between Iran and one of its few Arabsupporters, Libya, in the wake of the latest Iranian offensive. Anothererstwhile Iranian sympathizer, Algeria, is reported to be reviving quietdiplomacy aimed at ending the conflict. This leaves Syria as Iran's only realally in...