Israeli planes attacked Syrian positions in the Mount Hermon region today and also hit terrorist enclaves on the western slopes of the mountain in the terrorist area known as “Fatah land.” The Syrians, meanwhile, have intensified their attacks. This morning they renewed their artillery and tank fire and from time to time directed Katyusha rocket salvos at Israeli forces in the enclave region and in the Nafah village area. The Israeli artillery returned the fire.
The targets today were deeper in Syrian and Israeli territories and therefore Golan Heights roads were closed to civilian traffic and settlers were ordered into shelters for many hours. All Israeli planes returned safely to base after their attacks. The Syrians have continued shelling Israeli forces in the enclave, the Kuneitra region, Nafah village (central Golan) and from time to time, also on Mount Hermon. One soldier was injured as a result of the shelling.
Israeli sources see the intensification of Syrian attacks as a way of trying to Impress upon Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger that unless Israel is made to accept the Syrian plan for disengagement the situation could deteriorate to a point endangering all of the Middle East agreements achieved so far.
Meanwhile, it was reported that as a result of yesterday’s shelling by the Syrians, four Israeli soldiers were killed. They were identified as 2nd Lt. Gershon Blau, 21, of Afuleh; Pvt. Daniel Ohanon, 20, of Netanya; Pvt. Ron Hochmann, 20, of Herzliya, and Pvt. Yoram Prisant, 20, of Haifa.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
