 The Lebanese Army Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant general Ibrahim Tannous, tried to get the Americans involved, reasoning with them that they should do so, since the Syrians were backing the anti-government militias.At first, the Americans refused but eventually agreed when they were told that Souk El Gharb was in danger of being overrun.The nuclear-powered missile cruiser USS "Virginia", and the destroyer USS "John Rodgers", the frigate USS "Bowen", and the destroyer USS "Arthur W. Radford" fired 338 rounds from their five-inch (127 mm) naval guns in support of the Lebanese Army units defending Souk El Gharb.