Egyptian Artillery and Tanks Lay Down Another Barrage Along Waterway Front

Egyptian artillery and tanks have renewed their now daily barrages across the Suez Canal this evening. According to latest reports, Israeli guns returned the fire and the exchange was continuing. An Israeli civilian was wounded by Egyptian sniper fire near Port Tewfik earlier in the day. In other actions, an Israeli border policeman was killed and three other policemen and a soldier were wounded in a surprise attack today with mortars, machineguns and recoilless guns near Neve Urr in the Beisan Valley. An Israeli soldier was wounded during the 14th consecutive day of clashes with Jordanian forces along the Jordan River, a military spokesman reported.

Today’s shelling along the Suez Canal began at 5 p.m. local time near Port Tewfik and in the Dweir Suwer area. The shooting spread later to the Firdan bridge area near Ismailia. A United Nations observers’ car on the east bank of the canal was hit and burst into flame. Egyptian artillery shelled Israeli positions yesterday between Port Tewfik and the Bitter Lakes. Israeli gunners did not return the fire. No Israeli casualties were reported. Reports reached here today said that an Algerian senior army officer believed to be the commander of an Algerian brigade deployed in the Port Suez sector of the Suez Canal was killed in a recent clash between Israeli and Egyptian forces. The Beisan Valley attack occurred at 5:30 a.m. local time and was described as heavy and concentrated. The Israeli patrol was extricated after a 20-minute exchange of fire. A border patrol armored car was attacked last night near the Lebanese border. There were no casualties. An Israeli military spokesman said a series of clashes along the Jordan River yesterday began in the morning near the Abdullah bridge north of the Dead Sea. The Jordanians employed artillery, tank and small arms fire. The clash lasted 45 minutes. Jordanian forces opened fire again at 6 p.m. local time in the same region. An artillery and small arms exchange followed about an hour later in the vicinity of the Allenby bridge.