Israel’s Air Force Jets blasted guerrilla encampments inside Jordan this morning following a night of fierce artillery and rocket duels with Jordanian forces in which Iraqi units stationed in Jordan also took part. The air strike was the second in two days and the third since last Friday. A military spokesman said that eight terrorist bases were hit and many casualties were inflicted today.
There were no casualties reported in Deganya, Ashdod Yaacov or any of the other settlements in the Jordan and Beisan Valleys which were bombarded by Jordanian artillery and Katyusha rockets last night. Iraqis joined the attack with 122-mm, field guns. Israeli forces returned the fire and reportedly scored direct hits on enemy positions, aided by flares dropped by Israeli planes. A military spokesman said the Jordanian shells caused extensive damage to crops and banana groves in the Beisan Valley.
Yesterday Israeli jets attacked three guerrilla bases deep in Jordanian territory, surprising the commandos in early morning while most were still asleep. The targets, according to an Israeli military spokesman were Yadida, less than 10 miles north of Amman; Dibin, about eight miles south of Jarash township; and Dabrat, in the remote Araba region well south of Amman. All three villages were long ago evacuated by their civilian populations and were under complete control of El Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the spokesman said. Last Friday morning, Israeli jets attacked saboteur camps about 10 miles inside Jordan, north of the capital. The camps were bases for incursions against Israeli positions in the Golan Heights and the Beisan Valley.
Today’s air strike came as reports reached here that Iraq has sent units of its Air Force into Syria to protect Iraqi troops newly stationed there. A military spokesman said yesterday’s operation caused heavy damage to El Fatah installations. He said hits were scored on vehicles and possible on Katyusha rocket launchers, a mobile weapon that is favored by guerrilla groups. The spokesman said the air strikes were intended to show the terrorists that they were not safe anywhere in Jordan and to force them to move from camp to camp. The original terrorist bases near the banks of the Jordan River were rendered unusable some time ago by Israeli attacks.
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