Israeli Jets Attack Egyptian Targets; Lebanese Villagers Accept Israeli Presence

Israel Air Force jets attacked Egyptian targets in the Suez Canal zone for an hour this afternoon and returned safely to their bases. Two Israeli soldiers were wounded by Egyptian fire across the canal today. Israel Air Force jets attacked Egyptian positions along the Suez Canal twice last night and returned safely to their bases. An Israeli soldier was killed and two others were wounded in fire exchanges with Egyptian forces across the waterway yesterday. The dead man was identified as Pvt. Jacob Levi, of Givatayim. Israeli artillery shelled Irbid village in Jordan last night following the shelling of Kfar Ruppin, Yardena. Tel Katzir and Massada from Jordanian territory.

Strengthened Israeli patrols, supported by tanks, kept the Lebanese border quiet last night. There has been no terrorist activity in the area since Israeli units began policing both sides of the frontier last Saturday, according to a military spokesman. One unit occupied positions inside Lebanon last night and withdrew in the morning. Tanks have been lined up on the border to provide covering fire if necessary. An Israeli spokesman said the presence of Israeli forces has had a calming effect on Lebanese villagers in the border region. Once they were convinced that the Israelis were only after terrorists they returned to their fields, he said. Defense Minister, Moshe Dayan told the Knesset yesterday that Israel had no confirmation of a report this week in Newsweek magazine that Egypt has received a number of MIG-23 jets from Russia. The MIG-23 is said to be the Soviet Union’s most advanced supersonic fighter plane and is not yet fully integrated into the Soviet Air Force, according to some sources. Israel has said there is no proof a MIG-23 exists at all. But the MIG-21 has been substantially improved in design and performance and the new version is already in Egyptian hands.