Civilian Killed, 2 Wounded in Jordanian Mortar Attack Near Ashdod Yaacov

An Israeli civilian was killed and two others were wounded in a Jordanian mortar attack near Ashdod Yaacov in the northern Beisan Valley yesterday. All three were employes of the Mekorot Water Co. Four Israeli soldiers were wounded in a mortar duel between Israeli and Egyptian forces across the southern end of the Suez Canal last night. Another Israeli soldier was wounded this morning in a clash with Arab guerrillas in the Arava district of the Negev about 13 miles north of Eilat. An Israeli patrol engaged the guerrillas along the Jordanian border near Beer Ora and reported that it inflicted several casualties.

Israel Air Force jets attacked Egyptian positions along the Suez Canal for 45 minutes yesterday afternoon and returned safely to their bases despite anti-aircraft fire. The attack followed a morning dogfight over the waterway in which Israeli pilots downed three Egyptian MIG-21 interceptors. An Israeli civilian was wounded during an Egyptian artillery attack in the Suez Canal zone today. Four Arab children were injured in Gaza today when a hand grenade thrown at an Israeli car missed and exploded near them. A curfew was imposed on the area.

An Israeli military spokesman noted that Israeli jets have been attacking Egyptian artillery batteries, anti-aircraft gun emplacements and ground-to-air missile sites almost daily since July 21. He said the Israeli objective has been to retain command of the air over Suez by preventing the Egyptians from repairing and re-deploying their defenses. A wounded Israeli soldier who was taken prisoner during an Egyptian commando raid across the Suez Canal last week has died in an Egyptian hospital, the Red Cross reported yesterday. The Red Cross got its information from Egyptian authorities.