Heavy Fighting on Both Fronts

Heavy fighting was reported on both the Syrian and Egyptian fronts today. A military spokesman confirmed Premier Golda Meir’s announcement to the Knesset this afternoon that an Israeli task force had crossed the Suez Canal and was in action on the west bank behind Egyptian lines. The spokesman gave no additional information except that the Israeli forces have hit artillery and anti-aircraft missile sites in an operation that has been underway for 24 hours. There was no indication tonight whether the task force had withdrawn or remained on the west bank. Heavy battles involving tanks and artillery were reported today on the canal’s east bank.

Israel claimed today to have repulsed counter attacks by Syrian and Iraqi troops on the northern front with heavy losses to the enemy. The communique claimed that Israeli armored units, operating under close air force support, have so far destroyed about 50 percent of the combined Syrian-Iraqi armored forces, an estimated 750-800 tanks. Israel claimed that its fighters downed 22 enemy planes today, 10 over the Syrian front and 12 in the Egyptian sector.

Israel said that a naval force successfully attacked military installations on the Egyptian coast east and west of Alexandria. Direct hits were reported on radar stations and other military targets and all Israeli naval craft returned safely to their bases. According to an Israeli communique Egyptian naval craft fired missiles at Sharm el-Sheikh this morning but scored no hits and were driven off. Terrorists continued to operate from southern Lebanon last night. Three were killed in a skirmish near Manera and fire was exchanged with terrorists at several other points along the border. A resident of Zarit village was injured by a bazooka shell fired from Lebanon.