Israel submitted a strong complaint today to United Nations Truce Supervisory Organization headquarters against a Syrian foray into Israel territory yesterday in which two Israel police were killed and six wounded. The Foreign Ministry was reported considering whether to circulate a note among members of the UN Security Council over the incident which was described here as the most serious in recent months.
An Israel investigation of the unprovoked attack which occurred east of the settlement of Dan only a few yards from a UN observation post, proved that the Syrian troops penetrated in battle formation some 500 meters into Israel territory. The Syrians attacked a group of police who were busy clearing mines out of a demilitarized zone. The Syrians attacked under covering fire from Syrian gun positions on the border.
Police unit reinforcements and nearby kibbutz members joined in repulsing the attackers who used mortars and other heavy weapons in the battle. The retreating Syrian troops took with them weapons of the wounded and slain Israel police troops.
Israel officials reported that there were no UN observers at the nearby UN post one of four established six months ago to maintain watch over the demilitarized zone and to prevent just such incidents. UN observers appeared to start an investigation only after the attack was repulsed and the firing ended.
Meanwhile tension continued to prevail today along the border. Syrian troop movements were clearly visible during the night. Sporadic firing from Syrian positions was heard throughout the night and the Syrians operated huge searchlights.
Dan settlement workers went out to the fields this morning but work was not resumed in the demilitarized zone. There were unconfirmed reports that the Syrians had warned Israelis not to resume working in the zone and that they would fire on anyone entering the area.
When UN observers, at Israel’s request, yesterday demanded an immediate cease-fire, the Syrians refused, claiming that only a “minor exchange of gunfire between Israel and Syrian shepherds” was occurring which did not require Syrian intervention. Israel officials said the attack last night had been ordered by a top-ranking Syrian officer in Damascus to create a diversionary incident in the current power struggle in Syria.
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