Syrian gunners opened fire again this afternoon in the Ashmora and Tel Katzir areas in the seventh border incident since January 1. Israeli troops returned the fire in both sections and reported no casualties resulted from the newest Syrian shooting.
The Syrians fired in the Ashmora area with automatic and small arms weapons in an exchange which lasted about an hour. The other shooting was aimed at an Israeli tractor working in the sector which was the scene yesterday of the first Syrian-Israeli tank clash, a battle which cost the Syrians two tanks destroyed and one damaged. The Syrians used rifles and light machineguns in their shooting today and the exchange which followed was brief.
Meanwhile, Israeli tank experts assessed the victory yesterday. The tank gunners were jubilant. The destruction of the Syrian tanks was a remarkable achievement because at this border point, the Syrians are in a higher topographic position and able to shoot down at the Israelis. In addition, they had the advantage of having initiated the tank battle, the experts said. They also pointed out that the Israeli gunners scored their hits in a very brief time after their tanks were sent into battle position. The crews were given special citations.
Lt. Gen. Odd Bull, chief of staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, was asked by Israel today to transmit to the Syrian authorities Israel’s warning that it would not tolerate the continuing Syrian attacks on Israel territory and civilian life.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
