Israeli commandos staged a hit-and-run mortar attack on a major Egyptian naval base about 100 miles south of the Suez Canal last night, a military spokesman announced today. No details of the action were given but all of the raiders were reported to have returned safely to their base.
The target of the attack was Safaga, a naval base on the Gulf of Suez surrounded by army camps and other military installations. The spokesman said that fires were seen in the target area indicating direct hits. The attack was the second Israeli penetration of Egyptian territory within a week. Earlier Israeli commandos struck an Egyptian Army camp behind the Suez Canal lines.
Cairo claimed today that the attack on Safaga was an air raid and that the Israeli planes were driven off by Egyptian anti-aircraft fire and jet fighters. But a subsequent Egyptian broadcast said the Israelis were evacuated by air, a tacit admission that a force had landed.
An Israeli soldier was killed in an exchange of fire with Egyptian forces across the Suez Canal yesterday. He was identified as Pvt. Nissum Yaacob.
ROCKET ATTACKS MADE ON SETTLEMENTS FROM LEBANON, JORDAN
A Katyusha rocket, fired from Lebanese territory, exploded in a school in Kiryat Shemona early today before classes began. The school was empty at the time and no casualties were reported. Another rocket exploded in a deserted street, shattering glass, but caused no casualties or other damage.
Two Katyusha rockets were fired from Jordanian territory today at Afikim and Samakh on the south shore of Lake Tiberias. No casualties or damage was reported. A bazooka shell fired from Lebanon at Kibbutz Misgav Am yesterday caused no casualties or damage.
Israeli jets attacked Jordanian military positions and guerrilla emplacements opposite the Beisan Valley yesterday. All planes returned safely.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
