Israeli defense forces brought artillery into play Sunday night to silence Arab terrorists who brought the potash plant at Sodom under fire from rockets. More than 20 rockets, fired from Russian-built Katyusha launchers, were directed at the works during three barrages. Some damage was suffered by the plant, located at the southern end of the Dead Sea, and one workman was injured but plant operations continued. The Israeli artillery fire was directed at the Katyusha positions near the Jordanian village of Asaffi.
Previously, a period of quiet in the area followed an Israeli punitive foray against Jordanian road and rail bridges after an attack on the potash works. The Jordanian authorities recognized the Israeli raid as a warning against further attacks. The latest rocket attack was seen here as evidence of further deterioration in the position of the Jordanian regime which, apparently, cannot obtain compliance with its orders from the regular Jordanian forces. Authorities at a Jordanian border police station at Asaffi were apparently either unwilling or unable to stop the terrorists.
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