Israeli Jets Hit Egyptian Targets, Blast Jordanian Positions Facing Beisan Valley

Israeli Air Force jets attacked Egyptian military targets in the Suez Canal zone this morning and returned safely to their bases. Israeli jets also blasted Jordanian positions facing the Beisan valley following last night’s Katyusha rocket attack on Beisan township in which two young children and a pregnant mother were slightly injured. The attack, mounted from Jordanian territory with the aid of Jordanian Army regulars, damaged an apartment house but none of the occupants were hurt. An Israeli family of three was injured by a hand grenade explosion in the Gaza market place today. The family, a father, mother and child, came from Rishon Le Zion to shop and were parking their car when the grenade was thrown. A local resident of Gaza was also injured. Police have detained a number of suspects. Last night’s attack on Beisan township was one of the heaviest in recent months. The injured children were identified as Zipora Israeli, six, and her three year-old brother, Avi, who were hit by shell fragments as they were entering a bomb shelter. The pregnant woman suffered a slight concussion when a shell exploded near her as she was on her way to a bomb shelter. Her name was not given.

An Israel Army civilian employee was wounded Saturday during an exchange of fire with Egyptian forces in the Suez Canal zone. Several Katyusha rockets were fired Saturday night at Shaar Hagolan settlement but caused no casualties. A 20-year-old Israeli soldier. Haim Ziv of Jerusalem, was killed Thursday in an exchange of Israeli-Egyptian fire along the Suez Canal and Ovadia Shaul. also 20, of Haifa, died on Thursday of wounds suffered in a similar exchange six months ago. Another soldier, whose name was not disclosed, was injured Thursday. The Army reported today a sharp drop in military and civilian casualties during July compared to the previous month. A total of ten soldiers and four civilians were killed as a result of enemy activity on all fronts compared to 43 soldiers and civilians killed during June. The Suez Canal front continued to account for the heaviest casualties with six soldiers killed and 40 wounded between July 1-31. Two soldiers and four civilians were killed at El Hamma on the Jordanian front. One soldier was killed and one was wounded on the Syrian front. One soldier was killed and four soldiers and four civilians were wounded in the Gaza strip. On the Lebanese front. 11 soldiers and five civilians were wounded but no fatalities were reported during July.