Israel was engaged today in a massive ground, air and sea operation against Palestinian terrorists in southern Lebanon with the stated objective of creating a terrorist-free security belt parallel to the 100-kilometer Israeli-Lebanese border. Action ended tonight. (See P. 3.)
The action was launched during the early hours of this morning employing infantry, artillery and armor with large-scale air support and naval operations against terrorist bases on the Lebanese coast. By noon, Israeli forces had overrun almost all known terrorist strongholds in southern Lebanon.
A late communique reported a heavy Air Force attack on the terrorist naval base at Damour, south of Beirut, the site from which PLO terrorists launched their seaborne assult on Israeli civilians last Saturday. Military sources acknowledged that the fighting was heavy in some sectors. They said the terror ists sustained severe casualties and Israeli forces also suffered casualties, but no figures were given.
‘NOT A RETALIATORY ACTION’
Defense Minister Ezer Weizman, addressing a press conference here this morning, stressed that the operation, though a consequence of Saturday’s terrorist outrage, was not a retaliatory action “in the accepted meaning of the word.” He said “the operation will attempt, and I hope we shall succeed, to outroot the concentrations of the terrorists from south Lebanon who were recently reinforced by men and equipment.”
Weizman emphasized that “Israel has no intention of retaining south Lebanon. It is Lebanese territory. Elias Sarkis (President of Lebanon) said yesterday he has no control over south Lebanon and I can confirm that. . . . But since this area is a base for terrorists going out for murderous missions, the Israeli government has instructed the army to enter that region and restore order,” he said.
Weizman said the Israeli army would remain in south Lebanon as long as necessary to restore order and expressed hope that the operation will not jeopardize peace negotiations between Israel and Egypt.
It was apparent from the outset that both Israel and Syria, whose peace-keeping force is deployed in southern Lebanon, wish to avoid a confrontation. Syrian forces, including the Damascus sponsored Palestinian terrorist group Al Saiqa, have remained out of the battle. Syrian anti-aircraft fire was directed against Israeli planes attacking Damour but the Israeli pilots did not return the fire. Damascus radio broadcast Israel’s statement that it was not fighting Syria.
Two Katyusha rocket shells were fired at Metullah and Kiryat Shemona on the Lebanese border this morning but caused no casualties. All of the villagers were in bomb shelters and had been there as a precautionary measure since the Israeli operations began.
SEES 100-KILOMETER-LONG SECURITY BELT
Israeli army Chief of Staff, Gen. Mordechai Gur, told reporters this morning that Israeli forces have pushed into Lebanon to a depth of 7-10 kilometers. He said the forces would join all enclaves into a 100-kilometer-long security belt. He insisted, as did Weizman, that the Israeli forces will not remain in Lebanon permanently and that Israel has no claims on Lebanese territory. “Israel is not making war on Lebanon, its army or against the Syrian army. It is only against the terrorists,” Gur said.
The continuous security belt which is Israel’s objective would extend from Ras Nikura on the Mediterranean coast to the slopes of Mt. Herman on the eastem extremity of the border which overlooks the so-called Fatahland, long a region under terrorist control.
Israeli forces have taken Ras Nikura, Bint Jibal, Maroun A-Ras, El Khiyam and Abel A-Saqi. Maroun A-Ras is a strategic village about a mile from the Israeli border. It was captured by Palestinian terrorists from Lebanese Christians two weeks ago. According to reports, the Christians are assisting the Israeli forces.
The operation against the terrorist bases was planned for earlier this week but was postponed because of bad weather. The go-ahead order was issued late last night and the action was announced officially at 2 a.m. local time this morning. The initial military communique said the mission was to hit and destroy the terrorists at their bases.
Apart from mentioning the terrorist strongholds captured, Israeli military communiques gave few details of the operation. Reports tonight said the operation was continuing according to plan and that infantry, armor, artillery and engineering units were engaged all along the border from the Mediterranean coast to Mt. Hermon.
Spots of resistance were reported but the fighting appears mainly to be a mopping-up action. Foreign news reports that Israeli forces reached the Litani River were not confirmed by Israeli sources. It was announced, meanwhile, that the Air Force attacked the port of Tyre, a major terrorist maritime base and another maritime training base on the El-Ouzai quay south of Beirut. All planes returned safely to their bases.
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