Israeli forces combed a wide area of “Fatahland” in southern Lebanon last night, blew up bridges and roads and killed one terrorist who opened fire on an Israeli unit as it approached Shuba village a military spokesman reported. In addition to Shuba, the operation by what was apparently a large, heavily armed Israeli force, swept through Hibriyeh and Sheibeh villages which are used as terrorist bases.
No Israeli casualties were reported, A report from Beirut last night put the Israeli force at 200 men supported by armored vehicles and said they were engaged by Palestinian forces. Israel did not confirm this report. Last night’s operation was in direct response to the terrorist ambush of an Israeli patrol in the Har Dov region yesterday morning in which four Israeli soldiers were wounded. They were evacuated by helicopter to a hospital.
Immediately after the incident, Israeli artillery shelled the region. A military spokesman said the casualties occurred on the snow-covered western ridge of Mt. Hermon when an Israeli half-track was hit by a bazooka shell fired from Lebanese territory. The half-track bad been travelling slowly on slippery terrain in a heavy mist.
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