Katyusha rockets were fired at three civilian centers in northern Israel last night and early this morning without causing damage or casualties. A volley of rockets exploded in Safad in Upper Galilee shortly after 10 p.m. local time last night and another volley hit Moshav Avivim near the Lebanese border at about 11:30 p.m. The Mediterranean coastal town of Nahariya was the target of rockets fired at 2:30 a.m. today.
Security sources said the rockets were an improved version of the Soviet-made Katyusha, with a 122 mm. diameter and a range-of 10 miles and may have been fired from moving vehicles. Military circles believe last night’s attacks which were the first against Israeli civilian centers in some time, were intended to provoke Israeli military action along the Lebanese border leading to new clashes with Lebanese army regulars. Two Israeli and seven Lebanese soldiers were killed in fighting across the Lebanese border Saturday night and Sunday morning.
According to Israeli circles, the pitting of Israeli against Lebanese forces suits the terrorists’ strategy at a time when a near civil war is raging in Beirut between Palestinians and right-wing Lebanese Falangists. (Lebanon’s military Cabinet resigned yesterday after three days of fighting that threw that country into turmoil.)
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