Israeli Jets Attack Guerrilla Bases in Lebanon; First Air Strike in Four Months

Guerrilla bases in southern Lebanon were targets of a 90 minute attack by Israel Air Force jets yesterday. The attacks were intended to destroy the sources of terrorist forays that have claimed the lives of three Israeli civilians and three soldiers since last Wednesday. A military spokesman said all aircraft returned safely. An El Fatal announcement in Beirut claimed that one Israeli plane was downed by ground fire and another hit. Reports from Beirut said the Israeli air raids were the heaviest yet on Lebanese territory. Beirut said the attacks were carried out by “wave after wave” of planes with the Israelis using every type of military aircraft in their arsenal. It was the first Israeli air strike against Lebanon in four months.

The attack followed a statement by Defense Minister Moshe Dayan Friday that Israel would no longer warn Lebanon but would strike if the authorities in Beirut failed to halt terrorist incursions. “We will hit back even at the risk of international criticism in order to defend the lives of Israeli citizens,” Gen. Dayan said. Three Israeli soldiers were killed and three were wounded in a guerrilla ambush near the Allenby bridge in the Jordan Valley Friday. The action was reported last night after the families of the dead men were notified. They were Privates Jacob Arbela, 36, of Far Monish, the father of two, Arch Gewirtz, 22, of Kibbutz Urmia, and Meir Tandi, 28, of Reshoot, each the father of one child. All of them were in the Army Reserve. Nine Israelis were injured last night when a hand grenade exploded in a Jewish-owned restaurant in East Jerusalem. The grenade was rolled through an open door shortly after the restaurant opened for the evening. Police have detained several dozen persons for questioning.