From the pages of Gulf News dated January 13 - 17, 1979

January 13

Troops 'invade' Europe
Fourteen thousand American troops are being flown to Europe to test how effectively the United States can rush reinforcements to its Nato allies in the event of a crisis. For the first time, the annual "Reforger" exercise is being held in winter, instead of in autumn, to train US soldiers in severe European winter conditions. A total of 43,500 US troops, including the 14,000 brought in by the airlift, will later take part in a field exercise in West Germany code-named "Certain Senfinel".

US cancels order for British jet fighters
US Defence secretary Harold Brown has cancelled a proposed $4.7 billion purchased by the US Marines of 360 British AV-8B Harrier Jump-jet fighter aircraft (below). The Marines already have 110 Harrier AV-8A's, an earlier model bought in the early 197O's which has been involved in 32 crashes in recent years.

January 14

Tunis Air hijackers give up
Four hijackers who seized a Tunisian Boeing 727 on a flight to the Mediterranean holiday island of Djerba have given themselves up to Libyan authorities at Tripoli airport, diplomatic sources in Tunis said. Earlier the hijackers had freed the plane's 70 passengers — 24 of them West German — and later the eight-man crew was allowed to leave. After negotiations the hijackers handed themselves over to the Libyan authorities. Three of the hijackers were Libyan and one Tunisian.

18 die as Syrians blast East Beirut
At least 18 people were killed and 73 wounded when Syrian troops blasted Christian districts of Beirut with tanks, rockets and heavy artillery, hospital sources said. The spokesman said one mortar shell killed two young boys and wounded 10 when it slammed into a football field beside a hospital.

January 15

Hardliners union plan
Syria and Iraq, once bitter foes, are planning to merge into a single state under one leader with command over combined armies on Israel's northeast border. A union of the two countries would alter the balance of power in the Middle East. The sources said the merger had been agreed in principle and that details would be worked out in talks between Syrian President Hafez Al Assad and Iraqi President Ahmad Hassan Al Bakr in Damascus next week.

January 16

Al Ahli stadium opened
Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum opened the new Al Ahli football stadium in Dubai. The first match was played between English FA cup holders Ipswich Town and Al Ahli Club. Al Ahli tried hard to realise the pre-match promise that they would make a real match of the game and at half-time, with the score still 0-0 they must have thought that they had a chance to steal the result. Ipswich beat Al Ahli by 3-0.

January 17

Tearful Shah leaves Iran
With tears in his eyes, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, with Empress Farah Diba, left Iran for Egypt and the United States, piloting his own jet on a journey many believe will end in permanent exile. His departure touched off jubilant celebrations throughout Tehran. "The Shah is gone forever," people chanted as millions poured into the streets of Tehran cheering and shouting with joy at what they saw as victory in a yearlong, bloody uprising to topple the 59-year-old Shah.