An Israel Defense Force patrol clashed with and captured four Arab infiltrators on the Golan Heights Tuesday, wounding one of them, a military spokesman announced today.
The intruders, who put up a short fight near Kibbutz Afik before they surrendered were described as youths aged between 16-21, armed with Kalatchnikov rifles, ammunition, 11 hand grenades and three anti-tank rocket-propelled grenades. Israeli military authorities believed their intention was to seize hostages in exchange for Palestinian terrorists held in Israeli prisons.
The IDF was alerted to the infiltration attempt by a breach in the border fence east of Kibbutz Mevo Hama near the southern end of the Golan Heights. The location is near the point where the Israeli, Syrian and Jordanian borders converge and is believed to have been chosen to create doubt as to where the infiltrators originated.
Israeli experts are convinced they came from Syria, though possibly without the knowledge of the Syrian authorities. They pointed out that the Syrians have been trying to reduce such activity and the infiltration is regarded by Israel as an isolated incident.
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