Israeli Planes Hit Guerrilla Bases in Jordan to Destroy Rocket-launcher Emplacements

Israel Air Force jets attacked Arab guerrilla bases near Es Safiys in Jordan, south of the Dead Sea today. A military spokesman said the planes took off at 6:00 p.m. local time and returned safely to their bases 20 minutes later. He said pilots reported little anti-aircraft fire.

The target was believed to be a base from which Arab saboteurs attacked a civilian pick-up truck on the main road to Eilat yesterday and planted explosive charges which damaged the road.

Katyusha rockets exploded in the southern suburbs of Jerusalem shortly after midnight this morning but caused no damage or casualties. Two of the rockets landed near a new housing project in the Katamon quarter and another went off near the Ganei Yehuda Hotel in Talpiot. Guests were awakened but most of them went back to bed a short while later as police combed the area for guerrillas.

Security officials said that no more than four rockets were fired from the Russian-made launcher which, they believe, was concealed in a wadi (dry creek bed) just outside the city. The attack was the first time Jerusalem has come under fire since the June, 1967 war.

Four salvoes of Katyusha rockets were fired at Beisan township this morning but caused no casualties or damage. The rockets were fired from Jordanian territory. Israeli forces returned the fire.

An Israeli soldier and a border policeman were injured early today when guerrillas attacked a patrol south of Kfar Ruppin in the Beisan Valley. The road to Eilat was slightly damaged last night when four demolition charges exploded. Two other charges were found and dismantled. Two bazooka shells were fired at a pick-up truck on the road to Eilat. They came from Jordanian territory. No casualties or damage were reported.