Israeli jets shot down four Syrian MIGs this afternoon and successfully carried out attacks against Syrian targets in the Mt. Hermon area and the Yom Kippur War enclave, a military spokesman announced. All Israeli planes returned safely to their bases.
According to a communique, a dogfight developed at 1:30 p.m. local time when eight Syrian aircraft attacked Israeli positions on Mt. Hermon. Israeli interceptors engaged them and shot down four. Last night, Syrian artillery shelled Israeli positions on Mt. Hermon and the Yom Kippur War enclave. The Syrians also fired a number of Katyusha rocket volleys. Israeli guns returned the fire.
Israel meanwhile is taking a grave view of the presence of Syrian units in Lebanese territory. The units are located in the southeastern section of Lebanon known as “Fatah land” because of its use in the past as a staging area for Palestinian terrorists. The Syrian units there are active against Israeli positions on Mt. Hermon and are believed to be working closely with terrorist groups. Israeli authorities have made it clear that they consider these developments to have altered the status quo of Lebanese territory.
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