Claim: Syria to occupy Lebanese city

DAMASCUS, Syria, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Syria plans to occupy the Lebanese city of Tripoli, military sources told the Israeli news Web site DEBKAfile.

The news site reported Wednesday that 10,000 Syrian troops allegedly have massed on the Lebanese border ready to follow an advance force.

The advance forces occupied seven villages around Tripoli earlier this month, the report said.

A Lebanese army spokesman said Beirut had asked Damascus for clarifications and was told the measure was "internal and in no way directed against Lebanon."