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Kindergarten in Kiryat Shemona Shelled by Rockets; No Casualties Reported

January 13, 1972
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A kindergarten at Kiryat Shemona in upper Galilee was badly damaged by a Katyusha rocket shell fired from Lebanese territory this morning. There were no casualties but splinters from the 130 mm. shell smashed all windows and raked the interior of the kindergarten. Neighboring buildings were also hit by fragments. Israeli artillery opened return fire as sirens wailed and villagers scurried into bomb shelters. Two further explosions were heard but their source was not determined.

Israeli circles said the attack was apparently a demonstration by terrorists that they could inflict damage on Israel despite Monday night’s commando raid against two of their strongholds in Lebanon. The Israelis recalled that Kiryat Shemona was shelled by terrorists in May, 1970 following an Israeli raid deep inside Lebanon.

DOCTOR TRIED TO SAVE SOLDIER’S LIFE

Military sources disclosed today that the withdrawal of the Israeli commandos from Lebanon yesterday was delayed while a field doctor tried in vain to save the life of a fatally wounded Israeli soldier. Emergency surgery was performed on Corp. Yoram Shiloni, 19, by torchlight as the terrorists rained mortar shells on the Israeli unit. Israeli artillery fire silenced the mortars. Corp. Shiloni succumbed to wounds in his head and legs inflicted by a terrorist grenade. Returning Israeli commandos said they counted between 8-10 terrorists killed but estimated that the terrorists suffered much higher casualties.

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