Three Israeli soldiers were wounded in a clash with Syrian troops in south Lebanon Friday, a military spokesman announced today. He said five Syrian soldiers were killed in the brief exchange of fire east of Lake Karoun.
The spokesman disclosed that two Israeli officers were killed in Lebanon Thursday, one while trying to dismantle a booby trap and the other when his patrol came under fire south of Beirut. An Israeli soldier was wounded in that encounter. The spokesman reported artillery exchanges by Israeli troops south and east of Beirut with either Syrians or Palestinians who fired from inside the Lebanese capital.
Chief of Staff Gen. Rafael Eitan issued an order of the day warning Israeli forces to be constantly on the alert even though the main battles in Lebanon appear to be over. He said that snipers may still fire on Israeli soldiers or try to shoot down low-flying aircraft. He cautioned the troops to be especially watchful for booby-trapped objects. He warned also against looting and “taking souvenirs.”
The army said, meanwhile, that it would soon release reservists called to duty when Israel invaded Lebanon on June 5. But most are expected to complete their required 40 days of active service.
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