1.   In fact, it barely sufficed to keep out reconnaissance sorties by the handful of French planes which had been in Verdun at the outset.

2.   A police statement said Israeli helicopter gunships made nightlong reconnaissance sorties over the region under parachute flares, drawing anti-aircraft fire from Lebanese army positions.

3.   Air force jets flew reconnaissance sorties over the Himalayas to monitor the withdrawal.

4.   Israeli jets also flew low-level reconnaissance sorties as far north as mountains south of the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

5.   Israeli warplanes have staged increased reconnaissance sorties over Beirut and Baalbek in the past two days, heightening fears they were filming possible targets for selective air strikes.

6.   Neither Jordanian pilots nor jetfighters are due to take part in the reconnaissance sorties, slated for mid-April.