IDF Attacks Syrian, Palestinian Positions After Terrorists Kill 5 Israelis and Wound 6 in Ambushes

Israeli aircraft and ground forces launched heavy attacks against Syrian and Palestinian positions east of Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley today. The attacks were in response to two terrorist ambushes yesterday which killed five Israeli soldiers and wounded six others. The ambushes were carried out from the shelter of Syrian lines in the Mansoura sector of eastern Lebanon.

Six other soldiers were wounded when terrorists attacked an army jeep with Soviet-made rockets south of Tyre, an area believed to have been largely cleared of terrorist forces. An army spokesman also reported that terrorists fired on Israeli troops in east Beirut and near Kfar on the eastern front where Syrian troops and terrorist forces are believed to be operating jointly.

A military spokesman charged that the Syrians were using terrorists to conceal their own breaches of the cease-fire with Israel and warned that the Syrians and terrorists would not be allowed to attack Israeli troops with impunity.

The latest Israeli strikes were launched only hours after the Cabinet convened in special session to discuss the ongoing crisis in Lebanon. Israeli aircraft also raided terrorist positions in west Beirut and claimed direct hits on artillery batteries there. The targets were in the Beirut sports stadium and international airport regions.

An Israeli spokesman noted that there have been six cease-fires arranged since June II and all were broken by sniping, small arms and automatic fire and by mining roads. He charged that the Syrians were attempting daily to advance closer to Israeli lines. Israel is believed to have sent a stern warning to Damascus through American channels yesterday.

Meanwhile, two Israeli soldiers who died of wounds suffered in earlier fighting were buried today One of them succumbed to a head wound he received on the second day of the war over a month ago.