Israeli Jets Attack Egyptian Ground-to-air Missile Bases in Suez Canal Zone Sectors

Israel Air Force jets attacked Egyptian ground-to-air missile bases in the southern and central sectors of the Suez Canal zone and the northern section of the Gulf of Suez today. The jets attacked in intermittent waves throughout the night as well, according to a military spokesman, hitting mortar positions, artillery batteries, infantry bunkers and other fortifications all along the waterway. No Israeli losses have been reported since the downing of two jets by anti-aircraft missiles in the canal zone yesterday. They were the first combat jets to be hit by Egyptian ground-to-air missiles since the June, 1967 war. There is some speculation here that they may have been victims of the new Soviet SAM-3 missiles. But most military observers believe they were hit by the older SAM-2s, hitherto ineffective against low-flying supersonic Jets. Jordanian and Israeli forces fought a 40-minute artillery battle in the south Jordan Valley last night. Several Katyusha rockets were fired from Jordanian territory this morning at Beth Joseph and Yardena in the Beisan Valley. No casualties or damage was reported. Terrorists in Lebanon fired 90 mm, mortars at Avivim settlement last night without causing casualties or damage. A water conduit near Maalot settlement in the Upper Galilee was sabotaged last night, seemingly by terrorists from Lebanese territory. Four Lebanese fishermen were rescued today in Israeli waters by an Israeli police boat-when their own boat developed trouble. Haifa police acted to arrange for their Immediate return to Lebanon. Twelve Arabs detained three years for aiding terrorists were returned to Jordan under the terms of 1945 regulations issued by the British Mandate authorities and still in force.