Egyptian Missile Bases Near Cairo Raided; First Deep Penetration Since Factory Bombing

Israel’s Air Force resumed its deep penetration of Egypt today with raids on missile bases 19 miles south of Cairo. Israeli Jets also attacked Egyptian military positions in the central section of the Suez Canal zone for almost two hours today and attacked for one hour last night in the southern section of the canal zone. A military spokesman said that all Israeli aircraft returned safely from all missions. He said an Egyptian Air Force attempt to raid Israeli positions in the northern sector of the canal zone today caused no casualties or damage.

According to an Israeli spokesman the principal targets of today’s air attacks were surface-to-air missile bases near Helouan and at Dahshour about eight miles to the south. The Soviet-made missiles are part of a protective screen surrounding Egypt’s heavy industry complex south of Cairo. The raids came five days after Israeli bombers blasted a civilian metal factory at El Khanka near Cairo in a raids that Israel called accidental but which drew a denunciation from Soviet Russia and a sharp protest from the United States.

Premier Golda Meir said in the Knesset today that as long as Egypt continued to ignore the cease-fire, Israel would continue to bring the war to Egyptian territory. She said Israel regarded the cease-fire agreements that ended the June, 1967 Six-Day War to be a necessary step toward a political settlement. She maintained that Israel held out the promise of “an honorable settlement” to the Arabs if they decide on peace. She observed that instead, President Nasser of Egypt has opted for a war of attrition.

ISRAEL DENIES CLAIM THAT ITS TROOPS FOUGHT MAJOR BATTLE WITH ARAB GUERRILLAS

A military spokesman said an Israeli soldier was wounded last night in an exchange of fire with Jordanian forces in the Jordan Valley near the Allenby bridge. Israel denied a claim by two Arab guerrilla organizations in Amman, Jordan that they had fought a major battle against Israeli troops in the Jordan Valley last night. Israel said no such battle took place. The guerrillas said they attacked Israeli forces at four points along a 25 mile front and inflicted heavy casualties and damage.

An Israeli soldier was injured today when a tractor hit an anti-vehicle mine at Nahal Dikla. The tractor and a near-by truck were damaged. An Israeli patrol was attacked with gun fire and hand grenades near Bethlehem last night and returned the fire. There were no casualties, Beirut radio reported that a bomb exploded today at a farm research center run by the American University. No one was hurt. The attack was attributed to guerrilla organizations pressing for action against U.S. interests in the Middle East.