Israeli warplanes hit a terrorist base near Majdel Anjar in east Lebanon today, an army spokesman reported. The planes destroyed buildings at the base in the Bekaa valley that was operated by Palestinian rebel leader Abu Musa. All Israeli aircraft returned safely to their base.
The army spokesman said the base had been used as a departure point for attacks by terrorists operating from behind Syrian lines in east Lebanon. Another base used by the Abu Musa terrorists was bombed August 16 after their leader claimed responsibility for a thwarted car-bombing attempt in Jerusalem.
Today’s attack followed reports that three Israel Defense Force soldiers were wounded in south Lebanon in the past 24 hours. One was wounded today when a roadside explosion was set off as a convoy passed by on a road west of the Ansar detention camp. Two other soldiers were wounded yesterday in a clash with a terrorist band northeast of Tyre.
Both incidents occurred in the area known as the “iron triangle” which is inhabited by Shiite Moslems who have carried out many attacks on the IDF in recent weeks. In a search of the area, IDF soldiers found a large cache of arms, including Katyusha rockets, missiles and rocket-propelled grenades.
The IDF instituted new security arrangements at the Awali River crossing in this region, including a “terminal building” where passengers and vehicles are searched, to reduce the amount of arms smuggling between the north and south of Lebanon. The bridge which had been closed last week, has now been reopened, and delays at the crossing point have been reduced from three or four days to about three hours.
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