Elsewhere in southern Lebanon, Muslim guerrillas have been exchanging rocket and artillery fire with Israeli forces and their client militia, the South Lebanon Army.

The aim, the Israelis assert, is to humiliate people in the hope that they will attribute their troubles to Israel and its client Lebanese militia, and demand that they leave the zone.

In addition to Syria's troops, Israel has a client militia in its so-called security zone in southern Lebanon.

Patrols Will Continue Officials said that Israel's client militia, the South Lebanon Army, will continue to patrolthe security zone to assure there were no violations.

In the north, Israel and its client Lebanese militia fired artillery rounds at villages in southern Lebanon said to be strongholds of the militant Party of God.

That area is where the Party of God maintains bases from which it raids Israeli troops and their Lebanese client militia, the South Lebanon Army.

Fearing an imminent attack by the Israeli Army or its Lebanese client militia, thousands of villagers fled their homes in southern Lebanon today after being told that they had 12 hours to leave.

Israel is also reportedly prepared to release Arab prisoners held by an Israeli client militia.

The Israeli Army, in cooperation with a local client militia, occupies the security zone, which was set up by Israel to guard against guerrilla attacks against northern settlements.

Al Khiyam is a small town within the 440-square-mile buffer zone patrolled by Israeli troops and a client Lebanese militia, the South Lebanon Army.